On December 18, “in connection with instances of harassment and intimidation of Moldovan officials and politicians by the authorities of the Russian Federation”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration decided to summon back to Chisinau Ambassador Andrei Neguta “for consultations” for an undetermined period. President Igor Dodon was angered by the decision, saying this was a step backward in the diplomatic relationship with “out main strategic partner”.
As of December 19, joint Moldova-Ukraine border control operations have started at the checkpoint Palanca. The authorities say this “will help to ease transborder traffic and ensure greater transparency in the process of performing checks through the implementation of the one-stop shop principle”. The project is financed by the EU and co-financed by the Government and is implemented by UNDP Moldova.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), European Union (EU) and the World Bank are providing a €270 million package to finance a permanent interconnection between the electrical networks of Moldova and Romania. The package includes EIB and EBRD loans of EUR 80m each, a EUR 70m loan from the World Bank and a EUR 40m investment grant from EU funds. Funding agreements to this effect were signed on December 20 in Chisinau.
Also on December 20, the IMF Board of Directors approved a new installment of $22.2 million for Moldova Prime Minister Pavel Filip said the decision comes after the IMF approved the government’s report on the fulfillment of its commitments within the program. The money is offered in budget support and will be used to cover economic and social needs.
On December 21, the European Union announced it was €36.3 million in budget support to Moldova, specifically for job creation, growing exports to the EU, improved public administration, better police services and accelerated rural development.
The National Bank (NBM) published on Wednesday evening (December 21) an abridged version of the second Kroll report, which, according to an NBM press release, reveals the way money was siphoned off from the Moldovan banking system as well as the countries where the money went. While reiterating the role of the Shor group in the fraud, the summary said it was “important that the apparent beneficiaries are kept confidential” in order to “protect due process with regards to ongoing or future civil or criminal procedures”.
On December 21, President Igor Dodon accepted the resignation of five Cabinet members in a reshuffle announced earlier last week by the Democratic Party leadership in a bid to “depoliticize” the Government. The outgoing members were Health Minister Stela Grigoras, Foreign Minister Andrei Galbur, Justice Minister Vladimir Cebotari, Economy Minister Octavian Calmic, and Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Matters Gheorghe Balan. However, President Dodon refused to accept the replacements – Svetlana Cebotari, Tudor Ulianovschi, Liviu Volconovici, Alexandru Tanase, Chiril Gaburici, and Cristina Lesnic, respectively; plus Iurie Leanca in the newly-created post of Deputy Prime Minister for Eurointegration Matters – citing integrity and competence reason.
On December 22, Prime Minister Pavel Filip proposed the same candidates for a second time, and if President Dodon refuses again to formally approve them, Speaker Andrian Candu said the Constitutional Court would again be asked to advise on the best course of action.
Parliament on December 22 voted to appoint the People’s European group leader Valeriu Ghiletchi deputy speaker after his predecessor and colleague Iurie Leanca was nominated to become deputy prime minister for European integration in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
Selection by Alina Marin
