The Republic of Moldova is worried about a coup attempt by the Kremlin. In addition, flows of refugees and dependence on Russian gas are destabilizing the country’s economy. The head of government therefore takes her hat off. Your successor Recean is looking for European allies.
A new, pro-European government has been sworn in in the Republic of Moldova. The parliament in Chisinau approved Dorin Recean as the new head of government with 62 of the 101 votes. The 48-year-old had previously presented his government’s guidelines. “We want to live in a safe world, in which international treaties are respected, in which problems between states are solved through dialogue, in which small states are respected,” says the government program with regard to the invasion of Ukraine.
The former Soviet republic borders western Ukraine. Similar to the neighboring country, a part of the Republic of Moldova, Transnistria, has split off, which is ruled by pro-Russian separatists and in which Russian soldiers are stationed. Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, fears have grown in Chisinau that Russia is trying to destabilize the country. President Maia Sandu accused Russia on Monday of planning a coup. The government in Moscow rejected the allegations.
A week ago Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita resigned after only 18 months in office against the background of economic turbulence. There had been several protests against inflation-related price increases. Above all, the energy costs and increased food prices put the approximately 2.5 million inhabitants. The country is dependent on Russian gas supplies. There is also a wave of refugees from Ukraine.
President Sandu asked allies for help at the World Economic Summit in Davos in January because of the tense economic situation. Last November, Germany provided the country with around 30 million euros to avoid an energy crisis in winter. One of the main tasks of the new Prime Minister Recean will be to promote accession to the European Union. The former interior minister has already pushed through various reforms that have brought Moldova closer to European standards.
Nevertheless, it will still be years before a possible accession to the EU. Recean has promised strong and transparent government and a pro-competitive business environment. The government in Moscow, which counts Moldova among its traditional spheres of influence, accuses the West of using the country, which lies between Romania and Ukraine, for anti-Russian policies. At the beginning of February, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared that Moldova could become a new “anti-Russian project” after Ukraine. European countries and the US reject Russian accusations that the war was instigated to weaken Russia.
