Republic of Moldova: Sandu nominates independent as PM
President Maia Sandu has nominated Alexandru Munteanu as Moldova's new head of government. The physicist, investment banker and entrepreneur with Moldovan, Romanian and US citizenship is an independent and was virtually unknown in Moldova up to now. He is to be confirmed in office on Friday by parliament, where the pro-European party PAS, which has close ties to Sandu, secured 55 of the 101 seats in the last parliamentary elections.
Lightning conductor and billboard in one
For agora.md, the fact that Sandu has chosen a prime minister nor from her own party speaks volumes:
“PAS knows that the upcoming reforms will not bring popularity, but dissatisfaction. At a time when the government is in the middle of a reform process, the election of a technocrat from outside acts as a balancing factor: the party retains its political capital while the government bears the costs of the reforms. The Munteanu government will have a double mission: it must push through structural reforms that bring Moldova closer to the European economy, while at the same time attracting investments, and not just EU funds but private investments that generate added value.”
On a kamikaze mission
Ukraine will have a competent partner in Munteanu, but not for long, writes Ukrainian journalist Sergiy Sydorenko writes in Contributors:
“Even now Munteanu admits that he's unsure whether he'll remain in Moldova once he has served his term as prime minister. For us Ukrainians it's very important that the future prime minister has lived in Ukraine for a good 20 years. His main business interests are concentrated in Kyiv. ... Moreover, it's understood in Chișinău that Munteanu's government is a transitional one. The prime minister faces a kamikaze mission. The times call for unpopular and likely painful reforms. A prime minister without political ambitions will find it easier to take the hit to his image.”
Open questions regarding offshore business
The Romanian service of Deutsche Welle calls for more transparency about the future prime minister's previous economic activities:
“His name appears in the Pandora Papers of 2021, which list numerous companies and individuals who have done business in offshore jurisdictions. The prime minister's name is linked to a private investment company called 4i Capital Partners Limited, an offshore company that was registered in the British Virgin Islands in March 2016. The public has not yet been fully informed about the affair. Political analysts in Chișinău believe this should be done before the first session of parliament takes place.”