Moldovan PM gives himself grade 7 for first 100 days in office

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan says that the government's first 100 days in office were marked by the management of more crises, which limited the authorities' ability to achieve more of their proposed goals. The PM notes he is a self-critical person and believes that the government could have achieved more, if it had not been forced to intervene constantly to resolve crisis situations.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan gives himself a grade of 7 for the first 100 days in office, explaining that the cabinet could have achieved more, if it had not been forced to manage crisis situations constantly. The PM says he is a self-critical person and believes that, during this period, the government had to intervene to put out more crises, but at the same time, managed to lay the foundations for structural reforms the effects of which will become visible in the medium term.

„The citizens should give the grade. I am a very self-critical person. Personally, I would give myself a seven because we could have delivered more, if we had not been in firefighting mode. We had to put out many fires, but, very importantly, we resisted the temptation to deliver things that would immediately score political points. In my opinion, the things a responsible government must do are those structural reforms,” Tofan said.

Tofan notes that his assessment is determined not only by the crises that had to be managed, but also by the fact that the government chose to focus on structural reforms whose effects will not be felt immediately by citizens. They include the pension system reform, which, according to the prime minister, will create a second pension pillar in Moldova, as well as the local public administration reform.

„We resisted the temptation to deliver only things that provide immediate gratification and immediately score political points. (...) The things a responsible government must do are those structural reforms, postponed for a very long time, which will bring about change and produce effects in the medium term,” the prime minister specified.

Referring to the three profiles of a prime minister that he had previously assumed – conciliator, political animal and reformer –, Vasile Tofan said that he had tried to be conciliatory, in order to get the support necessary to carry out the reforms, while also acting as a reformer by promoting structural changes. He said that he did not intend to compromise on conscience, legality or transparency, but acknowledged that some decisions must be consulted on and adjusted according to the realities in the system.

The prime minister also explained why he had not resorted to massive staff cuts in the public sector, as some critics had expected following his statements about the need to make the state more efficient. He noted that most public employees work in education, and that reforming this sector must be done gradually. In this regard, he referred to the model schools project, which involves reorganizing the schools’ network and transporting students to better-equipped educational institutions.

„If you ask me whether it is sustainable to maintain the current system, it is not sustainable, and gradually we will have to carry out these reforms,” Vasile Tofan said.

The results of the government's first 100 days in office today were presented by Prime Minister Vasile Tofan at a press conference. The PM highlighted the main measures for developing the economy, attracting investments, modernizing infrastructure, making public administration more efficient and accelerating European integration.