CHISINAU, Feb 12 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Moldova’s government collapsed after the prime minister resigned as the ex-Soviet country grapples with crises in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but a new premier was swiftly lined up.
Natalia Gavrilita, 45, did not elaborate on the reason for her resignation, a day after Moldova’s intelligence service said Russia was acting to destabilise the country including through paid anti-government protests.
Gavrilita, who is from the same pro-European PAS party as Pres Maia Sandu, did not elaborate on her reasons for resigning, citing only a lack of “support and trust at home”.
Within hours of the prime minister’s resignation, Sandu nominated her pro-European security advisor Dorin Recean, a 48-year-old former interior minister, to replace Gavrilita. The ruling PAS party has 63 seats in a 101-seat parliament, so Recean’s nomination is expected to be approved.
The leadership change came as militarily neutral Moldova, which is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, said a Russian missile had crossed its airspace and summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident.
Russia maintains troops in Moldova’s breakaway region of Transnistria.
Impoverished Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June and faces multiple crises, including energy blackouts since Moscow invaded Ukraine.
Sandu announced the new premier in a televised statement, saying the government had faced crises in the aftermath of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“The new government will be formed promptly and will lead the country on the path of reconstruction,” she said.
The war in neighbouring Ukraine has caused security concerns as debris from Russian missiles has landed on Moldovan territory.
In a tweet, Sandu said she strongly condemned the violation of Moldova’s airspace by a Russian missile.
“Moldova deserves peace & security, and we will take all necessary steps to achieve it. Our neutral status doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be building up defenses to keep our people safe,” she said.
Moldova suffered energy blackouts after Ukraine stopped exporting electricity because of Russian airstrikes on critical infrastructure. Russia’s giant Gazprom also cut gas deliveries by half last year, according to Chisinau. — NNN-AGENCIES
