Moldova has new government

Chisinau, 14 November /MOLDPRES/- The parliament today gave a vote of confidence to the Cabinet of Ministers led by the candidate nominated by the president, Ion Chicu. The government is a minority one and was established with the vote of the PSRM and PD deputies. The ACUM bloc lawmakers have left the meeting room, and those from the Shor Party have abstained from voting.
Ion Chicu said that the minority government that he is going to run will have the mandate until the presidential election in the autumn of 2020. "Considering the status of minority government, set up to improve precarious situation in most social-economic areas of Moldova, timeframe of the work program is limited to the period until the presidential elections in autumn 2020," he said.
He noted he set out short-term priorities to improve the social and economic situation in the country in the beginning of winter. "The political crisis started a few days ago may have extremely serious repercussions in all socio-economic areas of the country. Therefore, any day of prolonging this crisis will further aggravate the situation of the country,” Chicu said.
Chicu's priorities include reforming the judiciary, reviving local public administration, boosting relations with development partners and meeting the commitments made by the Republic of Moldova so far.
Chicu said he would choose to resume good initiatives launched by previous governments and plans to turn Moldova into a construction site. The new cabinet will work on the recovery of the economy, the development of the IT branch, as well as tourism.
At the end, Chicu asked the MPs’ support, noting that he will come up with a detailed government program later.
ACUM bloc MPs criticized the new government and said that Chicu was appointed with serious violations of legislation.
Democratic MPs said they support this Government, but their vote is not a blank check and they will strictly monitor the activity of ministers.
The new cabinet will consist of nine ministries and will have two deputy prime ministers. Thus, the position of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance will be held by Sergiu Puşcuţă, who has headed the State Tax Service so far.
Deputy prime minister for Reintegration will be former head of the Reintegration Policy Bureau Alexandru Flenchea. The position of Minister of Economy and Infrastructure will be exercised by Anatol Usatîi, who has served as deputy governor of Gagauzia.
Minister of Internal Affairs will be former Minister of Defense Pavel Voicu and Minister of Justice will be PSRM lawyer Fadei Nagacevschi. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be headed by diplomat Aureliu Ciocoi, and the Defense Ministry - by General Victor Gaiciuc.
Minister of Education, Culture and Research was appointed Corneliu Popovici, who so far has served as presidential adviser. Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection became Viorica Dumbrăveanu, former Secretary of State in the same ministry. The new Minister of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, Ion Perju, has worked as an advisor to the president in the agribusiness and public administration.
Six of the 11 members of the new executive are presidential advisers.