The leader of Moldova’s National Alternative Movement (MAN), Ion Ceban, has announced that his party will not take part in the consultations initiated by President Maia Sandu with parliamentary factions on the nomination of a new prime minister following the resignation of Alexandru Munteanu.
Speaking at MAN’s Extended National Council on Saturday, Ceban said he saw no point in participating in the discussions and criticized the government’s performance over the past several months.
“What are we supposed to do there? We attended consultations with the previous government. The government programme was about four pages long. When we asked questions, we were told, ‘later.’ Well, that ‘later’ has turned into what we have seen over the past few months. And my question is very simple: why are you searching so hard for a prime minister? In any democratic country, the prime minister is the leader of the party that won the mandate to govern. Instead, we have someone sitting at the head of Parliament handing out microphones. Mr. Grosu, do you lack the courage? The ability? Are you afraid? Take responsibility for governing,” Ceban said.
The Chisinau mayor also called for a public report on the government’s performance over the past eight months and demanded that key state institutions appear before Parliament.
“This is not about personal grievances. It is about public money, public office, abuse, influence peddling, and much more. We need a report on these eight months of government. I call on all MPs to insist on it. All state institutions should also report publicly — the Intelligence and Security Service, the National Anticorruption Center, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, and the Prosecutor General’s Office. Tell us what is happening with call centres, drugs, fraud, appointments, salaries, and public tenders. That is what these institutions exist for and what they are paid to do,” he added.
President Maia Sandu announced political consultations on Friday, July 3, following Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu’s resignation earlier that day. Munteanu said he had stepped down because he could no longer carry out his mandate in line with his principles and convictions.