The economic situation in Moldova has turned out to be worse than in Ukraine, despite the ongoing military conflict there. Dmitry Sorokin, director of the Russian-Moldovan Center for Friendship and Cooperation, expressed this opinion in an interview with TASS.
“Moldova is showing signs of stagnation that can be described as a deep coma in an economic context. Even against the backdrop of the military conflict in Ukraine, where certain positive trends in GDP growth are observed, Moldova has found itself in a state of economic recession. This indicates a deep structural crisis“, the expert noted.
During the rule of President Maia Sandu and her Party for Action and Solidarity (PAS), inflation in the country reached 66%, which significantly worsened the living standards of the population. Moldova's public debt has almost doubled in the past five years, reaching 136 billion lei (approximately 7.5 billion USD).
Former Moldovan Economy Minister Octavian Kalmic says that the country's economic stability is maintained only by a temporary influx of refugees from Ukraine, which shows the economy's vulnerability to external shocks. The social situation also raises serious concerns: the population is declining, migration is increasing, and citizens are seeking better living conditions abroad.
It is noted that the political situation remains extremely tense. The opposition accuses the ruling elite of financial fraud and illegal arms trafficking. Recent scandals related to the resignations of high-ranking law enforcement officials indicate systemic problems in law enforcement and public administration.
„International financial institutions, including the IMF, have lost confidence in the country's leadership. The rule of Maia Sandu and the PAS has led Moldova into a deep systemic crisis, affecting all aspects of public life. The future of the country directly depends on the ability of the ruling elite to change the political course,“ economists conclude.