Harsh criticism is leveled at the new Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Andrei Spînu. Ex-MP Octavian Țîcu said Andrei Spînu’s return to the Cabinet means disrespect for the citizens and a failure of President Maia Sandu. For his part, PAS MP Radu Marian said Prime Minister Dorin Recean proposed bringing Andrei Spînu back into the Cabinet so as to improve the efficiency of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, while the insinuations that Spînu resorted to blackmail are falsehoods, IPN reports.
Former MP Octavian Țîcu said the prosecutors should determine the legality of Andrei Spînu’s actions when this held the post of Deputy Premier. He considers Spînu’s return to the Cabinet is a blow to the party’s image and mockery at the citizens.
“This appointment stunned me. This is a first big failure of Maia Sandu. Andrei Spînu should be investigated by the state institutions for signing a criminal agreement with Gazprom and not only because we paid a lot for gas, but also because this money went to the regime of Putin, both the money of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova and the money provided by the European Union. Two ministers who failed to do the assumed reforms withdrew then and they acted correctly. I refer to Litvinenco and Spînu. Spînu’s return is real insolence as it shows that his man, in his wish to repair his image or pushed by other interests, put the whole PAS in an extremely embarrassing situation. We wonder what ace in the hole Andrei Spînu has if he can blackmail President Maia Sandu,” Octavian Țîcu stated in the program “Secrets of the Power” on JurnalTV channel.
PAS deputy chairman Radu Marian said Andrei Spînu is a professional who managed to do away with the country’s energy dependence on Russia.
“As the deputy chairman of the PAS, I tell you with certitude that the initiative belonged to the Premier. He is responsible for the Government’s performance and, if he considers that particular ministries can be more efficient, he nominates persons. The insinuations about blackmailing are false. In any democracy, there are reshuffles and this seems a normal process to me. Andrei Spînu is one of the best organizers. He delivered remarkable results in the field of infrastructure when he served as minister - 350 kilometers of roads, the European Village, which is the largest local infrastructure project. In the energy sector, after 30 years we are finally no longer dependent on the Russian Federation,” stated Radu Marian.
“As usual, the Cabinet reshuffles are aimed at improving the efficiency of governance. Our officials were very brief in their explanations. Judging by the reaction of the press, the new appointments brought image problems to the government rather that image benefits. We hope the new ministers will swiftly deliver results so as to cover this image gap. The main problem is related to minister Spînu. There are image and explanation issues. We again ascertain that the government does not act appropriately to inform society,” said political commentator Anatol Țăranu.
On July 17, President Maia Sandu signed decrees by which three new ministers were confirmed as members of the Recean Cabinet. This way, the secretary general of the President’s Office Andrei Spînu was named Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development. MP Dan Perciun, who headed the Parliament’s commission on social protection, health and family, was appointed Minister of Education and Research, while colonel Adrian Efros, the head of the Crisis Management Center, became Minister of the Interior.
