Three ministers do not have chiefs and such a situation could continue for a period, consider Moldovan political experts. Asked by IPN to pronounce on the situation, Igor Botan, executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy, said the appointment of ministers is a triangular game between the Democratic Party, the Liberal Party and the presidential administration, while politologist Cornel Ciurea stated the period of suspense will continue until particular political matters are solved.
The current government is so closed that nobody knows the real springs that move things on, stated Igor Botan. According to him, a new player appeared in the equation recently. This is the presidential administration that wants to assess the professional skills of ministers. “It is a triangular game between the PDM, PL and the presidential administration. The PDM is on friendly terms both with the Liberal Party and the presidential administration, while the Liberal Party has a distinct position,” stated the analyst.
He also said that these three components struggle for posts of ministers and high-ranking public servants because they consider these are tools of administrative influence and look for niches for clan businesses. “Regrettably, it has always been like this and this is how things stand,” stated Igor Botan, noting it is not for the first time that the ministries are without ministers and such a situation can continue until the end of the mandate.
Corneliu Ciurea said the period of suspense will end when a series of political issues are resolved. Among these is the central public administration reform. Most probably, particular ministries will disappear and the ruling alliance thus does not hurry to make changes. Inside the alliance, they probably discuss the reshuffle of jobs inside the Cabinet given that the ministries will be decreased in number. Now the PL controls four ministries, but could remain with three as a result of the central public administration reform.
The Filip Government remained without three members since its investiture. Anatol Salaru was dismissed from the post of minister of defense because he lost the political support of the Liberal Party. Vasile Botnari left the post of ICT minister for that of chief of the Administration Board of SA Moldovagaz. Eduard Grama was dismissed from the post of minister of agriculture and food industry based on his resignation.
The duties of minister were taken over by a deputy minister of each of the three institutions. Iurie Usurelu took over at the Ministry of Agriculture, Gheorghe Galbura at the Ministry of Defense, while Vitalie Tarlev replaced Vasile Botnari at the ICT Ministry.
