President about Tofan Government: Development plans are big and ambitious. A lot of energy and stability are needed to succeed

Government led by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan needs public support and stability in order to implement the reforms and development projects that have been launched. This is the opinion of President Maia Sandu, who said that although the beginning of the new Cabinet’s term was marked by difficulties and crises, it “is doing well.” She expressed her confidence that the same trend will continue.


“Plans made at home don’t always match reality. We would have liked this Government to have an easier start. We see that, unfortunately, crises began from day one, but I believe the Government is doing well and I am confident that things will continue this way,” Maia Sandu said.


The President stressed that the energy shown by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan is necessary and important for efficiently managing current problems and for achieving the country’s ambitious development plans.


“The prime minister is a very energetic person and this is very important, because there are many problems, both immediate and systemic, that we want to solve. The development plans are big and ambitious, and a great deal of energy is needed,” the President said.


At the same time, the head of state noted that citizens can help the Government in reaching its objectives by getting properly informed only from official sources, by researching and analyzing topics of impact, and by not allowing themselves to be manipulated by false information.


“I believe that all of us must help the Government if we want it to succeed, and it is natural to want it to succeed, because our quality of life depends on this. And when I say that we must all help the Government, I mean, first of all, that we should not allow ourselves to be manipulated by breaking news and dramatic headlines, that we should be patient, do our research, read, including the information that comes from the authorities and from credible sources, that we should not share false information, that we should focus on important things, because there will always be some small, less important issues that create noise. But I don’t think that if we behave this way, by stirring up hysteria around issues that do not warrant it, we will manage to have effective governance,” the President added.


The head of state also responded to those who were disappointed that more radical changes were not made in the composition of the Government, pointing out that frequent personnel changes do not guarantee better results.


“I have seen people who were disappointed that not all ministers were replaced. It is not right to believe that if we change ministers every six months the results will be good. They will not be good; we need stability so that the programs and projects we talk about, those that have already been launched, can be brought to completion,” Maia Sandu explained.


According to the President, ministers and other officials who accept public positions work under constant pressure to find solutions during times of crisis. She warned that discouraging honest people who take on public responsibilities may, over time, create difficulties in finding professional and experienced individuals willing to assume public office.


“When these people come into office, they do not come for privileges or for a better life. On the contrary, they come to work under constant pressure, with crises; day and night you must be there, step in, find solutions, convince partners, mobilize the team again and again. These are well-intentioned, honest people whom we must support, not ask from morning to night whether another minister will be replaced. Because if we continue like this, it will be easy to end up in a situation where corrupt people return to power, people who do not care about public opinion, who do not care what Facebook writes about them and who are there only to fill their pockets. And I am sure that the vast majority of citizens do not want us to return to such a situation. It is important to see the achievements as well and not to discourage honest people, because if we continue like this, there will no longer be honest people willing to assume positions of public responsibility,” the President argued.


Maia Sandu also said that the current period is a complicated one and that taking on positions such as prime minister or minister involves very high public and media pressure.


“We are going through a complicated period; it is quite difficult to assume such responsibility, to be publicly vilified by the media from morning until night, to see your family only once every few months. So it is not very attractive today to take on a position of responsibility, such as that of prime minister or minister, and I would like us to be aware of this,” the head of state said.


In her view, criticism of the Government is necessary when it comes to serious issues, but the Cabinet must be supported when it delivers results.


“Governments must be criticized for things that are truly serious, for serious problems, but they must be supported when they do things well. Small mistakes will always exist; no one is perfect. Any person we bring into the position of minister, you will find some flaw. But what matters is when the person is well-intentioned, when they work day and night and when they succeed, because there may be situations in which a person works day and night but does not really succeed,” Maia Sandu concluded.


The Cabinet of Ministers led by Vasile Tofan took the oath of office on 22 July, based on the vote of confidence granted by Parliament.