"Beginning of the end" or "system failure": Opposition reacts to Alexandru Munteanu's resignation
The resignation of Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, announced on Friday, July 3, comes just eight months after his inauguration and is seen by the opposition as evidence of a crisis within the ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS). The opposition claims that society is likely to expect early parliamentary elections as a result. Meanwhile, Igor Grosu, the leader of the parliamentary majority, expressed gratitude to Alexandru Munteanu for "accepting to serve during such an intense period for our country" and for "the efforts made alongside other colleagues in the Government."
Igor Dodon: "The beginning of the end for the PAS Government"
"The Prime Minister, Mr. Alexandru Munteanu, abandoned a deteriorating ship in a timely manner. He made the right decision, realizing that he had no one to collaborate with. This marks just the beginning of the end for the most cynical, hypocritical, and corrupt government in the country’s history," stated Igor Dodon, leader of the Party of Socialists, on Facebook.
He also mentioned that society is anticipating the organization of early parliamentary elections.
Ion Chicu accuses "state capture"
Ion Chicu, a deputy from the "Alternativa" Bloc, described Alexandru Munteanu's resignation as an unprecedented event. He claimed that this is the first time in history that a prime minister supported by a parliamentary majority has resigned after just a few months, without the decision being influenced by a government crisis or a personal scandal.
Chicu believes that Munteanu chose to resign in order to distance himself from the current government. He stated, “He has chosen not to get dirty. And perhaps he does not have the strength to fight against this octopus, this criminal mafia. We are in a very complicated moment.”
Renato Usatîi: “Changing a person does not solve the problem”
The resignation of the prime minister alone is insufficient to address the issues facing the Republic of Moldova, according to Renato Usatîi, the leader of Our Party.
“The resignation of the prime minister does not resolve the core issues in the Republic of Moldova. Simply replacing one person with another within the same system will not bring about the changes that citizens are expecting,” Usatîi stated.
He emphasized that his party advocates either for early parliamentary elections, allowing citizens to determine who should govern the country, or for a government composed of professionals.
“The Republic of Moldova needs either early parliamentary elections to empower citizens in their choice of leadership or a government of professionals. This should consist of competent individuals with experience and integrity, regardless of their political background,” he added.
Ion Ceban: "The entire Government must go"
Ion Ceban, the mayor of Chisinau, stated that the prime minister's resignation is not enough and called for early elections, insisting that the entire government should resign.
"The entire PAS government and Maia Sandu must step down. Alexandru Munteanu did not agree to the schemes of the Action and Solidarity Party, which he described as banditry that protects relatives and perpetuates the corruption established in the Republic of Moldova," the leader of the National Alternative Movement expressed in a social media post.
Ceban argued that the situation in the Republic of Moldova is "extremely serious" across multiple dimensions, including economic and social issues, and he accused the current government of failing to implement necessary reforms.
Vasile Costiuc: “Bravo, Moldova! The schemes and the thieves remain!”
Vasile Costiuc, leader of the “Democracy at Home” party, welcomed the resignation of Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, suggesting that it highlights significant issues within the government.
“Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu has resigned! Bravo, Moldova! The President made this decision: Munteanu has stepped down, but the schemes and the thieves remain. If Prime Minister Munteanu's resignation is indeed due to his refusal to accept the presence of untouchable individuals within the government, then his action speaks volumes about the current state of the administration,” Costiuc stated on Facebook.
Maia Sandu: “The Prime Minister had a free hand”
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced his resignation on Friday, July 3, just eight months after being sworn into office by Parliament. He justified his decision by stating that he could no longer fulfill his mandate “in accordance with the principles and beliefs I hold.”
“Today, I am concluding my term as Prime Minister. I accepted this role with great responsibility and a firm conviction that I could help bring about positive change. However, I have come to realize that I can no longer carry out my duties in alignment with my principles and beliefs, so I have chosen to leave. I would like to thank all my colleagues—ministers, their teams, and everyone who worked with professionalism and good faith. I will continue to serve my country in whatever capacity I find myself, whether in the public or private sector, and regardless of my location or responsibilities. I believe that duty to the country is not tied to a specific position but to the commitment we uphold,” Munteanu stated on his Facebook page.
President Maia Sandu publicly contradicted Alexandru Munteanu during a press conference that followed his announcement. She stated, "The speculations suggesting that he was not allowed to fight against abuses are false. He had the freedom to lead the Government as he deemed appropriate, but he chose to resign."
The President also revealed that Prime Minister Munteanu faced "interpersonal problems" with the Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun.
Maia Sandu plans to hold consultations with parliamentary factions before designating a new candidate for the position of Prime Minister.
"We thank Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu for stepping in during a challenging period for our country and for the efforts he made alongside his colleagues in the Government. President Maia Sandu announced consultations with parliamentary factions for next week. The PAS faction will discuss the upcoming tasks, which include essential reforms, fiscal policy, and the wage law. We will carefully consider various opinions and analyze society's expectations. The most important thing is to continue our efforts related to EU accession without interruption," said Igor Grosu, the President of the Parliament and leader of the parliamentary majority party.
Alexandru Munteanu was officially sworn in as Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova on November 1, 2025, following the parliamentary elections in the fall of that year. He succeeded the Cabinet of Ministers led by Dorin Recean.
