IPN interview with Vlad Filat, chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova (PLDM)

  - Mister Filat, what can you say about the dismissal of Veaceslav Negruta from the post of minister of finance given that he was fielded to this post by the PLDM and formed part of the two governments you headed?

  - I approve of Mister Negruta’s contribution to ensuring efficient government in a not at all easy period for Moldova. I want to note that in 2009, when we and our partners from other democratic parties took over, Moldova was in a serious financial and economic crisis. The budget deficit represented about 15% of the GDP and the country was close to collapse. The governmental team had a very difficult task in those conditions. Mister Negrua administered an extremely complex sector where challenges were experienced at any pace. Working together with the minister of finance, we managed to avoid an economic collapse and restored the cooperation relations with the development partners. We reduced the budget deficit from 15% of the GDP to 2.1% (in 2012) and during these years we had en economic growth of almost 19% (taking into account the GDP growth forecast of 5% for this year). It was a rather difficult period and I appreciate the important role played by Mister Negruta, as a member of the team, with a view to dealing with the challenges.

  - What will be the relations with Veaceslav Negruta from now on?

  - I would like to remind that Mister Negruta is one of the founders of the Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova and one of the exponents of the party that I have the honor to head. Thus, it is important to note that Mister Negruta remains a member of the team and I’m sure that together we will manage to do more good things for Moldova, for the people.

  - Do you personally know Anatol Arapu whom you proposed for minister of finance, as far as I know?

  - I worked together with Mister Arapu within two democratic governments of Moldova, before the coming to power of the Communists. I know him as a professional and I’m sure that he will cope with his duties. As far as I know, Anatol Arapu worked together with other members of the governmental team, including Prime Minister Iurie Leanca, and this will help him to easier integrate into the team and to establish good cooperation relations with other colleagues. The PLDM proposed Mister Arapu for this post and he will be an exponent of the party as we bear responsibility for the efficiency of governance and this is an important aspect that should be noted. As a member of the governmental team, Anatol Arapu will be fully responsible for the achievement of the objectives that we set together with our partners.

  - What will be the duties of the new minister specifically?

  - It would be too simple to say that the new minister will be responsible only for the formulation, presentation and implementation of the state budget. His duties are much more complex. First of all, he will have to ensure good fiscal administration, overall transparency in the collection and utilization of public money, continuation of reforms in this field, creation of attractive conditions for developing the business sector, etc. Also, Mister Arapu will focus on the strengthening of the relations with our development partners, especially the International Development Fund, the cooperation program with which has expired this year. The new minister of finance has a number of definite tasks and he will face many challenges. But I’m sure that will cope successfully.

  - It is not for the first time that the PLDM fields people from outside the party for important state posts. For example, Minister of Education Maia Sandu, Minister of the Interior Dorin Recean...

  - We always laid emphasis on professionalism and attracted professionals to the party and the governmental team because the fate of the Moldovan people, the present and future of the country depends directly on the work done by these people and the results achieved by them. We will continue to employ the same approach and the PLDM’s doors will always be open to professionals who care about the fate of their country and who are ready to work for a better future. Anatol Arapu is one of them.

Valeriu Vasilică, IPN