Moldova Prime Minister Resigns, Triggering Government’s Fall

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent

CHISINAU/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced Friday that he was stepping down, triggering the resignation of his government in the strategically located nation sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania that has been a European Union candidate country since November 2025.

The surprise resignation follows public outrage in Moldova—one of Europe’s poorest countries—over what critics described as excessively high salaries at MoldATSA, the state agency responsible for airspace security, and several other state-owned companies.

Munteanu, 62, did not give a detailed reason for his departure, which comes less than a year after he took office following an election widely viewed as a choice between a pro-European future and closer ties with Russia.

“Today I end my term as prime minister,” Munteanu wrote in a statement posted on social media. “The moment I understand that I can no longer exercise my mandate in accordance with my principles and beliefs, I choose to walk away.”

CARETAKER GOVERNMENT

Under Moldova’s constitution, the resignation takes immediate effect, although the government will continue in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is approved.

President Maia Sandu thanked Munteanu for leading the country through what she described as a “complex period” but said she expected “more involvement in complicated decisions, more openness to listening to people.”

Sandu said she would begin consultations with parliamentary parties next week before nominating a new prime minister.

“We must have a united, strong team in the government that will fulfill our country’s objective,” she said. “We are obliged to succeed in taking Moldova into the European Union and helping the country.”

EU PATH UNCHANGED

Sandu stressed that Moldova’s pro-Western course would continue, saying, “Moldova’s path remains unchanged: reforms and EU accession.”

She also rejected speculation that Munteanu had been prevented from tackling alleged abuses, saying he had enjoyed “complete freedom” to run the government and had chosen to resign of his own accord.

Munteanu previously worked for the World Bank for about two decades before entering Moldovan politics. He said he would continue serving his country “from whatever position I may hold.”

Home to about 2.5 million people, Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. With a Romanian-speaking majority and a large Russian-speaking minority, it has long been a geopolitical battleground between Russia and the West. The country also includes the breakaway region of Transnistria, where about 1,500 Russian troops remain stationed despite repeated calls by Moldova for their withdrawal.

Political analyst Vitaliy Andriyevskiy described the resignation as evidence of “an acute governance crisis” in Moldova. Despite the political uncertainty, President Maia Sandu’s Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) retains a parliamentary majority and is expected to move quickly to form a new government while keeping Moldova’s European Union membership bid on track.

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