CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) 鈥� Moldova's new government led by pro-Western economist Dorin Recean was sworn in Thursday after winning Parliament's approval, as the small former Soviet republic signaled a shift to security concerns amid Russia鈥檚 war in neighboring Ukraine.
Recean, a 48-year-old economist who served for a year as President Maia Sandu鈥檚 defense and security adviser, was tapped by her last week as prime minister-designate after Natalia Gavrilita the position.
All lawmakers present from Moldova鈥檚 ruling Party of Action and Solidarity, which holds 63 seats in the country鈥檚 101-seat legislature, voted in favor of Recean鈥檚 government. One was absent. The Moscow-friendly parties, the Communists and Socialists, which hold 31 seats, abstained from voting, and the 6 Shor Party lawmakers boycotted the vote.
Sandu told the new government as she swore it in later Thursday that it has to lead Moldova through 鈥渁 very difficult period, marked by multiple crises,鈥� and highlighted European Union membership as the only way the country can 鈥減reserve and strengthen鈥� its democracy.
鈥淭he task of the new government is to provide security to the citizens and put the Republic of Moldova on a path of reconstruction and development, despite the crises,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e need decisive steps to strengthen the security of the country. The war in Ukraine continues, and this war carries risks for us.鈥�
Moldova鈥檚 cabinet will remain largely unchanged under Recean, with the foreign affairs, interior, and defense ministers retaining their posts. He told lawmakers Thursday that his main focus will be to introduce 鈥渄iscipline and order鈥� in Moldova鈥檚 institutions, breathe new life into the struggling economy and ensure peace and stability.
As well as focusing on European integration, Recean said, Moldova鈥檚 security sector 鈥渕ust be strengthened, and the activity of those who want to bring war here must be drastically countered.鈥�
鈥淢oldova has vulnerabilities in the context of the war in Ukraine,鈥� said Recean, who also served as interior minister between 2012 and 2015, 鈥渁nd these vulnerabilities must be treated with the utmost care.鈥�
On Monday, Sandu held a news briefing in which she outlined an to overthrow her country鈥檚 government using what she described as external saboteurs, to put the nation 鈥渁t the disposal of Russia,鈥� and to derail its aspirations to one day join the EU.
Sandu said that the purported Russian plot envisioned attacks on government buildings, hostage-takings and other violent actions by groups of saboteurs. Russia a day later as 鈥渁bsolutely unfounded and unsubstantiated."
鈥淭hreats to our country remain high. Destabilization attempts are a reality and for our institutions, they represent a real challenge," Sandu said Thursday.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine last February, non-NATO member Moldova has faced a string of problems. These include a severe energy crisis after Moscow dramatically reduced gas supplies; skyrocketing inflation; several missiles that have traversed its skies from Russia鈥檚 war next door, and a huge inflow of refugees fleeing the war.
On Thursday, Moldovan authorities said that missile debris 鈥渇rom Russia鈥檚 air strikes against Ukraine鈥� has been found by border officials in a rural area near the northern border with Ukraine, but did not say when the missile was fired. It is the fourth such incident recorded in Moldova in recent months.
Tensions also soared in Moldova, a former Soviet republic of about 2.6 million people, after a series of explosions occurred last April in Transnistria 鈥� a Russia-backed separatist region of Moldova where Russia bases about 1,500 troops.
Costin Ciobanu, a political scientist at the Royal Holloway University of London, said that Moldova's change of government shows 鈥渟ecurity concerns are high on the list鈥� of the authorities and that Sandu going public with her Russian plot claims lends 鈥渃redence to the idea that Moldova has to focus on its security.鈥�
鈥淭he main narrative behind the change of government was that the state has to focus more on the security dimension than on economic development and a cost-of-living crisis,鈥� he told The Associated Press. 鈥淏ecause many people were doubtful about the rationale behind the change.鈥�
In the wake of the war, Moldova has looked to foster closer ties with its Western partners. Last June, it was , the same day as Ukraine. But full membership will be contingent on a series of reforms such as tackling corruption and strengthening the rule of law.
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McGrath reported from Sighisoara, Romania.
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Stephen Mcgrath And Cristian Jardan, The Associated Press
