Moldova’s parliament approved the new government led by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan on July 21, 2026, with 53 votes from the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) and opposition members either abstaining or voting against the motion [1, 2, 3]. The parliamentary session lasted over nine hours, during which Tofan presented his government’s program and answered questions before the final vote [3].

Tofan, a 45-year-old financier not formally affiliated with any political party, was backed by President Maia Sandu and PAS [1, 2]. He replaced Alexandru Munteanu, who resigned unexpectedly after eight months in office [1, 2]. After parliamentary approval, the government will be formally appointed and ministers sworn in by President Sandu [3].

The new government’s program, titled "The European Economy, an Effective State," puts emphasis on reviving Moldova’s economy and advancing European Union integration [1, 2, 3]. Tofan said, “Our program is called 'The European Economy, an Effective State'. This is the commitment we will work towards, and it is by this commitment that we ask to be judged.” [1]

Moldova has set a goal to sign an EU accession agreement by 2028 and aims to join the bloc by 2030, having opened two of six negotiation clusters so far [1, 2]. The country, one of Europe’s poorest, recorded 2.4% GDP growth in 2025 and expects 2% growth in 2026 [1, 2].

Tofan pledged to reduce Moldova’s budget deficit, currently at 20 billion lei (about $1.1 billion), by two percentage points by 2029 [1]. The government plans to implement tax reforms, privatize at least 10 state-owned companies, reduce bureaucracy, encourage technology and artificial intelligence investments, and lower the shadow economy [1, 2].

Moldova’s political landscape is marked by a Romanian-speaking majority and a large Russian-speaking minority, with power shifting between pro-EU and pro-Russia factions [1, 2].

The next step involves the formal appointment of the government and the swearing-in of ministers by President Maia Sandu, completing the transition to Tofan’s administration [3].