Moldova's interior minister, Adrian Efros, has resigned amid executive shake-ups , promised by pro-European President Maia Sandu after she was recently re-elected for a second term, but with a much more modest victory than expected, Reuters reported.
Efros did not give reasons for his resignation, but said he worked in difficult times - in conditions of war in neighboring Ukraine, a huge influx of Ukrainian refugees and "other critical situations that tested the stability and security of the country" .
"Thanks to courage, solidarity and hard work, we managed to secure peace for our citizens and an atmosphere of stability. I worked for Moldova's European path because I was convinced that this is the path to a prosperous future," the former Minister of Energy has already stated.
Prime Minister Doreen Rechan said Efros would be replaced by Daniela Misail-Nikitin, previously a high-ranking official at the Interior Ministry. He also announced new incumbents at the head of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development and the Ministry of Agriculture.
"This is not the end of cabinet changes. I will continue consultations so that future changes meet people's expectations," Rechan pointed out.
Sandou, a champion of his country's European integration, won the presidential run-off earlier this month with 55% of the vote, and before that a referendum on EU membership, in which victory hung by a hair's breadth.
After the elections, she acknowledged the fact that she had won the vote with a not so decisive result and therefore promised changes to meet the expectations of Moldovans who voted for her rival, who, in turn, declared for a balance between relations with Europe and traditional ties with Russia.
Sandu accused pro-Russian elements of orchestrating a massive vote-buying scheme against her so she wouldn't win.
One of her inner circle, Andrei Spanu, who has come under a lot of public criticism, resigned as infrastructure minister earlier this month, even before the cabinet reshuffle had officially begun.