Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu resigns abruptly, triggering government collapse
Alexandru Munteanu announced his resignation on Friday, saying he could no longer govern in line with his principles. The move triggers the fall of the entire government and poses a challenge for President Maia Sandu's pro-European administration.
Resignation announcement
Alexandru Munteanu, Moldova's prime minister since November 2025, announced his resignation on Friday morning in a surprise move that also brings down his cabinet. The 62-year-old political independent posted the statement on social media, giving no specific reason for his decision.
Today, my term as Prime Minister comes to an end. The moment I realized that I could no longer carry out my mandate in accordance with my principles and convictions, I chose to step down.
Munteanu, a former investment banker who worked at the World Bank and Crédit Lyonnais, had been appointed by President Maia Sandu after her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won an absolute majority in the September 2025 parliamentary elections.
President Sandu's response
President Sandu accepted the resignation and said Munteanu would remain in an interim role until a successor is named. She denied speculation that the prime minister had been blocked from tackling abuses.
Speculation that he wanted to combat abuses but was not permitted to do so is false. The prime minister had a free hand to run the government as he saw fit.
Sandu added that she had expected more involvement from Munteanu on complicated decisions, including public communication around a recent fiscal reform and the adoption of a salary law. She also noted that his only objection concerned the person of Education Minister Dan Perciun.
Political context and speculation
The resignation lands at a delicate moment for Moldova, an EU candidate country wedged between Ukraine and Romania. The PAS government holds a parliamentary majority and is pursuing a pro-European course, but the country remains politically split between pro-Western and pro-Russian forces.
Local media have speculated about a link to recent scandals, including fake diplomas held by the head of the aviation safety authority Moldatsa, bribery among state employees, and high-paid jobs given to a cousin of President Sandu. Sandu dismissed any suggestion of influence, insisting Munteanu had unrestricted freedom to lead.
- Pro-European PAS party wins parliamentary elections with absolute majority
- Alexandru Munteanu appointed Prime Minister by President Maia Sandu
- Munteanu announces resignation, triggering government collapse
- President Sandu to begin consultations with parliamentary factions for a new PM
What comes next
Sandu plans to begin consultations with parliamentary factions next week and expects to nominate a new prime minister quickly. The swift appointment is intended to keep Moldova's EU accession process on track. Munteanu's departure, after just eight months in office, tests the stability of the pro-European coalition at a time when the government is navigating economic hardship and regional security pressures.
