Moldovan President Maia Sandu on July 11 nominated businessman Vasile Tofan, a senior partner and member of the investment committee at Kyiv-based private equity fund Horizon Capital, as candidate for prime minister following a proposal from the ruling Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), a statement from the presidency said.

If confirmed by parliament, Tofan will replace Alexandru Munteanu, who resigned after eight months in office. With 55 seats in the 101-member parliament, PAS has a working majority and is expected to secure parliamentary approval for the new government without support from other parties.

The nomination followed two days of brief consultations at the presidency. PAS was the only parliamentary party to participate in the process, while opposition parties boycotted the consultations. 

Tofan has 15 days to present a cabinet and governing programme to parliament and seek a vote of confidence. The confirmation process is expected to be closely watched as his predecessor, another technocrat with a private equity background and experience in Ukraine, resigned amid reported disagreements with sections of the ruling party over the pace of reforms and anti-corruption policies. Munteanu did not publicly disclose the reasons for his resignation.

Tofan had previously been approached to become prime minister last autumn, when Munteanu was eventually appointed, but declined the offer, citing existing professional commitments.

Although he has never held a formal political position, Tofan has publicly supported Moldova's European integration and backed PAS in recent years, unlike Munteanu, who had no prior political involvement.

At a press conference following his nomination, Tofan said the future government's main objective would remain Moldova's accession to the European Union, describing the goal of signing the accession treaty by the end of 2028 as "realistic", according to Ziarul de Garda.

The nomination also revived debate over Tofan's economic agenda. On July 4, shortly after Munteanu's resignation, he published on Facebook a list of 12 priorities for a future government, advocating sweeping structural reforms including fiscal consolidation, public sector downsizing, a higher retirement age, more flexible labour legislation and tax reforms aimed at encouraging capital accumulation. The proposals drew criticism from several civil society organisations, including WatchDog.md.

PAS leaders sought to reassure the public that the government would continue its current policy course. Parliament Speaker and PAS leader Igor Grosu pledged the party's full support for Tofan.

"We are a team," Grosu said.

Asked about differences between PAS and Tofan on some policy issues, Grosu said that "in a discussion, in a polemic, we reach a common denominator."

Speaking about cabinet formation, Grosu indicated that PAS would retain the decisive role in shaping the new administration, saying the party would "also take into account the candidate's opinion" when selecting ministers and determining the government's structure.

PAS has previously suggested that only limited changes would be made to the outgoing cabinet. Tofan, however, indicated that the new government, "in an expanded format", would also include new members.