With the support of 62 members of the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) in the 101-seat parliament, Moldova’s new pro-Western administration, headed by Prime Minister Dorin Recean, has taken office, Radio Free Europe reports.
The nomination of Recean, 48, as the replacement for Natalia Gavrilita, whose administration resigned after 18 months in power, was made by President Maia Sandu and was put to a vote on February 16 less than a week later.
Later on Thursday, Sandu swore in the new government and warned it that Moldova was facing “a very difficult period, defined by various crises.” She also emphasized that only by joining the EU would Moldova be able to “preserve and strengthen” its democracy, AP News reports.
As Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, Moldova joined Ukraine in requesting membership in the EU.
According to analysts, the administrative and economic changes needed to accredit the 27-nation group had not been sufficiently ambitiously undertaken by the former prime minister Gavrilita.
An energy supply shortage caused on by Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is presently affecting Moldova, a former Soviet country in the 20th century.
Meanwhile, remains of a Russian missile were discovered in a field on Thursday in Moldova’s northern region, close to the Ukrainian border, according to the Chisinau Interior Ministry. The debris was discovered on Moldovan land for the fourth time, according to Chisinau, DW reports.
The Moldovan airspace was violated last Friday, and the Russian ambassador was called to account. Russian missile overflights were reported to the Interior Ministry as having occurred in October of last year.
