According to the head of government, the authorities will begin by identifying real estate properties that have been abandoned or left unused for decades—these include buildings, land parcels, and other assets that are of no benefit to the state.
“We currently have a very responsible and gradual strategy on this issue. We do not intend to proceed with privatization immediately. In the first phase, we will focus on identifying assets, primarily real estate: abandoned buildings, vacant houses, and land plots that have not been used for 30 years or more,” said Vasile Tofan.
The prime minister acknowledged that the very word “privatization” evokes mistrust among the public due to past experiences, when some citizens believed that state property was being sold in a non-transparent manner.
“I fully understand that people do not trust the very word ‘privatization.’ Many believe that when privatization is announced, the assets will be sold to people close to those in power, and the profits will end up in someone’s pockets. We understand this trust issue,” the prime minister noted.
To change this perception, the government intends to carry out several pilot transactions to demonstrate that state assets can be sold transparently and effectively.
Vasile Tofan emphasized that only after such transactions are successfully completed will it be possible to discuss larger-scale processes.
“We want to show that we can take an asset with a book value of X and sell it for 10X, so that people can see: the process is truly transparent, and the proceeds go to support the state budget. Only after we restore trust and people see that everything is being done honestly and openly will it be possible to discuss larger-scale processes,” the prime minister concluded.
