Moldova PM Gavrilita resigns amid crises, prompting quick successor

Moldova's government collapsed after the Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita resigned as the ex-Soviet country grapples with crises in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but a new premier was swiftly lined up.

Natalia Gavrilita, 45, did not elaborate on the reason for her resignation, a day after Moldova's intelligence service said Russia was acting to destabilise the country.

The leadership change came as Moldova also said a Russian missile had crossed its airspace and summoned the Russian ambassador over the incident.

Sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania, Moldova is militarily neutral but is led by pro-European President Maia Sandu. Russia maintains troops in Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria.

Within hours of the prime minister's resignation, Sandu nominated her pro-European security advisor Dorin Recean, a 48-year-old former interior minister, to replace Gavrilita.

Sandu told a news conference that members of Gavrilita's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity, or PAS, accepted her choice of Recean as the new prime minister.

Recean, who served as interior minister between 2012-2015, will have 15 days to form a new government to present to Parliament for a confidence vote. PAS has a majority in Parliament.

"I know that we need unity and a lot of work to get through the difficult period we are facing. The difficulties of 2022 postponed some of our plans, but they did not stop us,” President Sandu said, adding that in 2023 she wants to focus on revamping key areas such as Moldova’s economy and justice sector.

Impoverished Moldova was granted EU candidate status in June and faces multiple crises, including energy blackouts since Moscow invaded Ukraine.

Sandu announced the new premier in a televised statement, saying the government had faced crises in the aftermath of Russia's war in Ukraine.

"The new government will be formed promptly and will lead the country on the path of reconstruction," she said. "We need unity to get through this tough time."

‘All necessary steps’

The war in neighbouring Ukraine has caused security concerns as debris from Russian missiles has landed on Moldovan territory.

In the latest incident, cruise missiles flew over Moldova and Romania as they landed in Ukraine on Friday, as Russia pursues its nearly year-old invasion, Kyiv's military chief said.

In a tweet, Sandu said she strongly condemned the violation of Moldova's airspace by a Russian missile.

"Moldova deserves peace & security, and we will take all necessary steps to achieve it. Our neutral status doesn't mean we shouldn't be building up defenses to keep our people safe," she said.

On Thursday, Moldova's intelligence service said Russia was acting to destabilise the country, following comments by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky that Kyiv had uncovered a plan by Moscow.

Gavrilita, who is from the same pro-European PAS party as Sandu, did not elaborate on her reasons for resigning, citing only a lack of "support and trust at home."

Sandu thanked her for her "sacrifice and huge efforts in leading the country through so many crises."

Moldova suffered energy blackouts after Ukraine stopped exporting electricity because of Russian airstrikes on critical infrastructure. Russia's giant Gazprom also cut gas deliveries by half last year, according to Chisinau.

AFP / AP