OFFICIAL | Vasile Tofan, President Maia Sandu's nominee for Prime Minister: "I intend to serve my mandate to the end"
Restoring citizens' trust through bold reforms and relaunching the economy through a close partnership between the government and the business community, to seize Moldova's historic opportunity to join the European Union (EU). These are the objectives Vasile Tofan has committed to after President Maia Sandu announced on Saturday, July 11, that she had nominated him for the post of prime minister following consultations with the parliamentary faction of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), which holds the majority in Parliament.
At the same time, Vasile Tofan stated that the goal of signing Moldova's European Union accession treaty by the end of 2028 is a realistic one and pledged to make every effort to achieve it.
"It is a great honor to stand here. I do not see this as an achievement or as another line on my CV, but as a great responsibility. And I must admit that I am deeply aware of this responsibility, and I will do everything in my power to live up to the expectations of the people of Moldova. I intend to get to work as quickly as possible. I am a hardworking person, and I want to devote all my energy and everything I know to making the lives of Moldovans better," Tofan said.
The prime minister-designate announced that he has "every intention of serving my mandate to the end" and that, in the initial phase, he will focus on three priorities that he considers essential:
"First, we must restore, build, and strengthen trust. I know the past few weeks have been difficult. Many people are disappointed. I will dedicate significant effort to restoring that trust. I understand that trust can only be rebuilt by being courageous—by acting boldly, implementing change, carrying out reforms, and demonstrating courage."
"Second, we cannot achieve our goals or improve people's lives unless we restart the economy. And the economy is not built in ministries or bureaucratic offices. It is built in the fields, on family farms, in factories, and in the IT Park. From my very first days, I will focus on restoring and boosting entrepreneurs' optimism, beginning first and foremost with local entrepreneurs. Optimism is the currency of entrepreneurs. We must bring that optimism back, so that people regain the spark in their eyes and want to invest in Moldova."
"Third, politics, government, and business are all team sports. I will not be able to accomplish anything on my own. I have a message for Moldova's public servants: I know many of you may have been concerned by some of my less fortunate comparisons, but I want you to know that I am a team player. I am here to build strong teams together. To everyone who shares our values—to everyone who is honest, courageous, competent, and hardworking—you will always have an ally in me. Everything we do will be aimed at improving the lives of Moldovans and bringing Moldova into the European Union as soon as possible. This is the opportunity of our generation, and I sincerely hope we achieve it together," Vasile Tofan emphasized.
Asked whether he plans to make changes to the structure and composition of the future Cabinet, the prime minister-designate declined to provide details, saying that he will hold several discussions next week before making a decision. He also announced that he intends to bring new people into the Government.
Igor Grosu: "The PAS parliamentary faction will provide full support"
PAS leader Igor Grosu announced that the ruling parliamentary faction will provide Vasile Tofan with the support he needs, describing him as a candidate who is perfectly suited to the goals and commitments the governing party has made to the country's citizens.
"Our main objective remains European integration. The PAS parliamentary faction will provide its full support, and we will stand by you throughout this very important process so that we can successfully complete everything we have started. I wish you every success. We are a team, and we look forward to welcoming you to Parliament as soon as possible," Igor Grosu told the prime minister-designate.
According to President Maia Sandu, Vasile Tofan has 15 days to prepare the government's program and present Parliament with the list of proposed ministers. The president also reiterated the government's key priorities.
"Under the Constitution, the designated candidate must, within 15 days, request Parliament's vote of confidence for the Government's program and its proposed composition. I wish Mr. Vasile Tofan every success, and I would like to remind everyone that the main tasks of this government are the following: ensuring the completion of all the processes necessary for Moldova's European integration over the coming years; further strengthening the resilience of the state's institutions as well as society as a whole; and, of course, restarting the economy so that we can raise the standard of living of all our citizens, as they deserve," Maia Sandu said.
Who Is Prime Minister-designate Vasile Tofan
Prime Minister-designate Vasile Tofan, the nominee put forward by the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) parliamentary faction to lead the next Government, is an investor, an entrepreneur, and a well-known representative of Moldova's business community. In recent years, his name has been mentioned for several high-profile public positions, including that of prime minister following the 2025 parliamentary elections and as a candidate for Mayor of Chișinău.
At 44 years old, he most recently served as a senior partner and member of the Investment Committee at Horizon Capital, one of the largest investment funds in Central and Eastern Europe. The fund manages more than $1.8 billion in investments and operates in both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.
In 2025, Vasile Tofan was among the initiators of the "Europe 2028" platform, launched by entrepreneurs and economists to support Moldova's accession to the European Union and promote structural reforms.
In his public statements, Vasile Tofan has consistently advocated for more efficient government spending, simplifying the relationship between the state and the business sector, attracting private investment, and expanding exports.
It should be recalled that the Government in Chișinău collapsed after Alexandru Munteanu announced his resignation on July 3, just eight months after being sworn into office by Parliament. In a post published on his Facebook page, he said that he could no longer carry out his mandate "in accordance with the principles and convictions" he holds.
In response, President Maia Sandu stated that Alexandru Munteanu was given "a free hand to lead the government as he saw fit," but that he "chose to leave."
