Perciun confirms disagreements with Munteanu on fiscal policy
The Minister of Education and Research, Dan Perciun, confirmed that he discussed budgetary and fiscal policy with outgoing Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu. He noted that certain issues that had not been fully addressed within the Government were reflected in the policy and had caused significant dissatisfaction in society. These statements were made following remarks by President Maia Sandu, who said that the only objection Alexandru Munteanu raised to the submission of the mandate concerned his interpersonal relationship with Dan Perciun.
On Friday, July 3, Dan Perciun commented during a Facebook Live that he had indeed discussed budgetary and fiscal policy with the Prime Minister the previous Tuesday. He emphasized his commitment to open discussions and dialogue on topics where opinions differ, stating, "certain things can be done differently or better in the future." Perciun mentioned that he maintained this approach with former Prime Ministers Natalia Gavrilita and Dorin Recean as well.
"I engage in open discussions every time, even with the President. One of the hallmarks of the Action and Solidarity Party is our culture of open debate on various issues, even when it means challenging someone’s opinion. I firmly believe in the necessity of such discussions, and there should be no obstacles in this regard," Perciun added.
He reiterated his focus on reforms at the Ministry of Education and Research, aiming to make significant advances in the education system. "In light of recent events, certain decisions need to be made, but my objective has always been to continue the work I do at the Ministry of Education. We are reviewing the curriculum, modernizing 90 schools, and updating our universities. There are many initiatives I've started that I want to see through to completion," concluded Perciun.
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced his resignation on Friday, July 3, just eight months after being sworn into office by Parliament. "When I realized that I could no longer fulfill my mandate according to my principles and beliefs, I chose to leave," he stated on his Facebook page.
Following Munteanu's resignation, President Maia Sandu held a press conference in which she announced she would begin consultations with parliamentary factions the following week to nominate a new Prime Minister. Sandu denied accusations that Munteanu had been prevented from addressing abuses, clarifying that his only concern was "the interpersonal relationship with one of the Government members," specifically Minister of Education and Research Dan Perciun, though she did not provide further details.
President Sandu expressed gratitude to Alexandru Munteanu for leading the Government during a challenging period that required measures to revive the economy and initiate essential structural reforms. She also urged the remaining ministers to continue their work with determination until a new Cabinet is sworn in, stating, "Let’s not take any breaks, let’s not stop for a moment; on the contrary, let’s work even faster."
Once a new Prime Minister candidate is designated, they will request a confidence vote in Parliament within 15 days on both the activity program and the entire Government list, which will be debated in a parliamentary session.
If forming a new Government proves impossible, and Parliament rejects at least two investiture requests within 45 days of the first, the President can dissolve Parliament, leading to early parliamentary elections.
