Vasile Tofan
The fourth government in the five years that the ruling elite has been in power has sparked a wave of commentary both in the local media and abroad. A change in prime minister outside of a new electoral cycle is not entirely common for Moldova, which has begun complex negotiations on accession to the European Union and is demonstrating its readiness to join.
Consequently, experts are debating the role that the new head of government might play or is already playing. Many have concluded that this decision stems from the government’s desire to overcome a domestic crisis of confidence in the ruling party following numerous scandals.
From Financier to Politician
For example, the authoritative European publication Euroactive has dedicated an editorial to this event, in which it expresses the view that “although Tofan is widely respected in business circles, critics of this decision question his ability to carry out reforms, given his lack of political experience in public office.”
This financier has long served as an unofficial advisor to pro-Western President Maia Sandu and is best known for introducing Western corporate governance standards to Moldova’s banking sector and listing one of the country’s largest wine-producing companies on the Romanian stock exchange, which many view as proof that the country’s economy can overcome its post-Soviet legacy, the publication adds.
Tofan also made headlines shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when he opened Château Purcari, the winery’s headquarters, to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war.
It remains unclear whether Tofan will be able to restore confidence in the government following the scandal involving Sandu’s inner circle, while maintaining momentum on the path to EU membership.
“If the PAS party is determined to put an end to these harmful practices, then this government will be able to see its mandate through to the end. Tofan comes across as a competent, determined individual who is intolerant of corruption and free of populist rhetoric. “However, if those close to the government continue to engage in abuses, we will witness a new political crisis,” Sergiu Tofilat, head of the NGO “Public Observer,” told the European publication.
Should we start from scratch?
Former Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Muravsky shared that the candidate’s policy speech from the parliamentary rostrum made a good impression on him, and that he considers the prime minister to be a capable and competent professional who, although he divides his time between two capitals—Kyiv and Chisinau—has a good grasp of domestic issues.
“The government’s program as presented is too extensive, and despite its substantive depth and structural coherence, it fails to answer the main question I’d like to hear addressed: why should we trust this government more than the previous one?” says Alexander Muravsky.
In other words, it remains unclear how these good intentions—which were also voiced by previous governments—will be put into practice. “It gives the impression that nothing has been done in five years, that the situation is critical, and that we need to start all over again from scratch. That would be logical between election cycles, but not at all in the emergency mode we’re in now,” the expert said.
Many have grown accustomed to the gap between words and deeds, and the government will have to prove itself not only with optimism at the start but also with results at the end. The prime minister himself seems predisposed to this, judging by his determination to “change horses midstream.” Another question is who or what will be the determining factor in the prime minister’s political will.
“Let’s leave only the walls standing!”
This appeal marked the most emotional part of the prime ministerial candidate’s speech.
“I want us to find a balance together between necessary changes and stability. Let’s carry out a major overhaul, but let’s not tear down the walls. We are not the first country to face such challenges. Other small countries—Ireland, Estonia, New Zealand—have gone through similarly difficult times and emerged victorious. I know that no comparison is perfect, but such examples are inspiring and instill optimism.
We have everything we need for growth—hardworking people, an open European market, digital potential, and the start of a revival in 2026. “Now we need to channel people, money, and institutions in one direction—toward growth, with greater speed and discipline,” said Vasily Tofan.
Vasile Tofan is an experienced top manager and financier with a degree from Harvard Business School. Coming from a politician, these words would only be taken seriously at a corporate meeting of the international investment firm Horizon Capital.
He came to power following the resignation of Alexandru Munteanu’s government, triggered by a political crisis and abuses in the allocation of positions. But in politics, the sequence of events can be ignored for the time being. Maia Sandu and PAS are risking everything by making this choice.
This is how the German press interprets the new prime minister’s debut. An independent technocrat, he is one of the co-founders of the “Europe 2028” civic movement, which promotes the country’s accelerated integration into the European Union. Due to his penchant for radical liberal reforms, the press has already dubbed him the “Moldovan Milei.” His proposals will be “shock therapy” for Moldova, writes DW.
The publication quotes political scientist Vitalie Andrievski, who believes that President Maia Sandu has put her political reputation on the line.
Tofan has long been known as a proponent of far-reaching liberal reforms, but each of his proposals is likely to spark serious public debate, resistance from the opposition, and even discontent among the electorate of the ruling PAS party.
This is an opportunity for Moldova to undergo profound modernization, but if PAS begins to back down under pressure from its falling approval ratings, the consequences will extend far beyond a government crisis, Andrievski warns:
“The political costs of such reforms arise immediately, while the positive results become apparent only years later. That is why many governments have lost elections before citizens could feel the effects of the reforms.”
