Acting Prime Minister expects new Government to be sworn in next week, while ministers avoid saying whether they will remain in office

Acting Prime Minister Eugeniu Osmochescu hopes that the interim status of the current Cabinet of Ministers will end quickly, estimating that the new Government could be sworn in next week. The statement was made at the beginning of today’s Government meeting. On the other hand, the current members of the Executive who attended the meeting were reserved in their comments in the institution’s hallways, avoiding confirming whether they will be part of the future government team led by Vasile Tofan.

In his remarks at the start of the meeting, Eugeniu Osmochescu said that the new Government could be sworn in “probably next week.”

“Let’s begin the meeting of the interim government; we hope it will be the only one, so that we can move quickly with the new government, which, from what we have seen in the public space, should probably be instituted next week,” said Osmochescu.

At the same time, the members of the Cabinet of Ministers who were present at today’s meeting were reserved in their statements when asked by journalists whether they wished to be part of the future Government.

Acting Minister of Culture Cristian Jardan said that he had a productive discussion with the designated Prime Minister, Vasile Tofan, stressing that he is ready to continue his work at the ministry if needed, while the final decision rests with the designated prime minister.

“We did not talk only about the situation in the field of culture. We also discussed other topics. It was a very good discussion. I found him determined and I liked his approach. I don’t know what will follow. It is his decision, and I very much want him to succeed. I would like to continue the work I have started. I am not clinging to the position, but as long as I am useful and can contribute to various projects, I am ready to continue,” said Cristian Jardan.

At the same time, when asked by journalists whether he would like another term as minister, Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatîi noted that it is too early to answer this question and emphasized that it is up to the designated candidate to form his team. The same question regarding the possibility of remaining in the future Government was posed to the acting Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun.

“I had discussions with Mr. Tofan. They were very good discussions. Mr. Tofan supports the developments that have been taking place in education lately. We had a focused discussion on schools, kindergartens, universities, on the main developments. It now depends on his decision and that of the colleagues in the parliamentary faction as to what the new Government will look like. I would like to continue the work I have started at the ministry, but we will find out in the next few days whether this is also the vision of the faction and of the designated prime minister,” said Dan Perciun.

Acting Minister of Environment Gheorghe Hajder said he wants the positive developments and reforms at the ministry to be continued, regardless of who will hold the minister’s seat.

“As for the next government, I had a discussion with the designated prime minister; it is now up to him to make a decision regarding the vision I presented, and this will be made public in the near future. I want the good things and the reforms to be continued at the Ministry, regardless of who will be the minister. But the most important thing is that the work on the commitments we have made to the citizens and in the context of the European integration process should continue, and it matters less who carries this out,” explained Gheorghe Hajder.

Acting Minister of Finance Andrian Gavriliță also avoided giving a clear answer to the question of whether he will be part of the next Government. However, he underlined the need for the projects already launched to be continued and confirmed his willingness to help implement them, regardless of the role he will hold.

“I discussed with Mr. Tofan about priority projects, plans and visions, but it is premature to comment on whether I will or will not be part of the future Government. I am tired, but I would not abandon the team. There are complex matters that need work, and of course I will not leave the team in the lurch; I will help, regardless of the role I will be in, to see these projects through to completion,” said Andrian Gavriliță.

Acting Minister of Health Emil Ceban emphasized that the final decision regarding the government team will be taken by the designated prime minister, Vasile Tofan.

“I had a meeting with the designated prime minister. I prepared and answered all the questions. It was an intense discussion. I am not the one who decides whether I will remain in the Cabinet of Ministers. The Government must continue its activity, the projects we have, the development strategies, and the work that has been carried out over these eight months must be completed,” said Emil Ceban.

President Maia Sandu appointed Vasile Tofan as candidate for the position of Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova on Saturday, 11 July. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova, the designated candidate must, within 15 days, request a vote of confidence from Parliament for the Government’s work program and its composition.

As part of the process of drafting the governing program and forming the future Executive, Vasile Tofan held discussions with all 16 acting ministers. Each minister was asked to present an analysis of the three to five most important priorities for the next 12 months, the main problems and risks in their area of responsibility, the obligations related to European integration, the necessary resources, as well as options for reducing administrative costs.

After discussions with the ministers, Vasile Tofan announced that decisions on the government team would follow, along with continued consultations with political parties and representatives of various sectors in order to finalize the governing program.