Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita announced on Friday that she is resigning after a year and a half in office, with no immediate explanation for the decision. The move also means the entire executive would step down, signaling a major political shift for the country.
Moldovan leaders reported the resignation during a press conference after a meeting with the president, Maia Sandu. The announcement came as Gavrilita, who had led a cabinet of thirteen ministers, faced ongoing political and security pressures amid regional upheaval.
Gavrilita began her term on August 6, after receiving support from 61 lawmakers from the Action and Solidarity Party PAS. Her time in office was marked by a series of ministerial resignations and persistent domestic challenges, all set against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and its regional repercussions.
In a formal message, President Sandu expressed gratitude to the outgoing prime minister for her work through a period described as unprecedented in modern Moldovan history. She noted that Gavrilita led a responsible government that maintained stability, fostered peace, and pursued development, even as neighboring forces tested the region with conflict.
President Sandu also indicated that she would begin outreach to multiple political factions in a bid to assemble a new government leadership. A PAS spokesperson stressed the party’s commitment to stability, while the bloc of communists and socialists reportedly declined to participate in the talks.
The timing of Gavrilita’s resignation, while she was in Brussels seeking closer ties with the European Union, aligns with immediate regional tensions. Recent Russian military actions have affected Moldova indirectly through cross-border shelling and disruptions in critical services, underscoring the broader security and energy challenges Moldova has faced since the conflict began across its border.