Sandu picks financier Vasile Tofan to be Moldova’s next prime minister

Moldovan President Maia Sandu has nominated businessman Vasile Tofan as prime minister, putting a private-sector financier in line to lead the government during a central stage of the country’s European Union accession push. Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters reported that Sandu tasked Tofan with helping restore public trust while advancing Moldova’s effort to join the EU.

Tofan, 44, is a senior partner at investment firm Horizon Capital and has no previous government experience, according to the news agencies. His nomination follows the resignation earlier this month of Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, who said he could no longer carry out his duties in keeping with his convictions.

Sandu thanked Munteanu at the time for his service and for starting what she described as difficult but necessary reforms, Al Jazeera reported. Moldova’s governing Party of Action and Solidarity, known as PAS, supports Tofan; the party controls both parliament and the government.

Under Moldova’s constitution, Tofan has 15 days to submit a governing programme and proposed cabinet to parliament for approval. His nomination therefore starts a short formal process that will determine whether he can take office with the backing of the legislature.

EU timetable and economic focus

Speaking at a news conference in Moldova, Tofan said rebuilding the economy would be one of his main priorities, according to Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters. He also said he would seek to secure Moldova’s EU accession by the end of 2028.

“If we do not restore optimism in the eyes of entrepreneurs, nothing else will work because there simply will not be money for it,” Tofan said.

Tofan indicated he was not planning major changes to the current cabinet at this point. He said continuity was needed to keep government programmes on schedule and to meet deadlines linked to Moldova’s EU accession process.

“If we miss this window, we risk significantly delaying our path,” he said. He added that his main challenge would be balancing the rapid changes he believes are needed with continuity in government.

Scrutiny over reform comments

Days before the nomination, Tofan wrote on Facebook that Argentinian President Javier Milei was an example of economic reform, according to Al Jazeera, Anadolu and Reuters. After criticism on social media, Tofan later said he no longer believed Argentina’s approach applied to Moldova.

Moldova lies between Ukraine and EU member Romania. The country has a Romanian-speaking majority and a large Russian-speaking minority.

For decades, Moldovan politics has shifted between parties seeking closer ties with Europe and those favoring stronger relations with Moscow, the news agencies reported. Tofan’s nomination comes as Sandu’s government keeps EU accession at the center of its agenda.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.