As Romania struggles to keep their nuclear power plants running - even sinking vessels to divert the Danube, Moldova worries about a water shortage in Chisinau. ...and the Taliban are in Chisinau?! All this and more in the Weekly Roundup. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

A month ago, Moldova's government program was 15 pages of bullet points. Today, PM Tofan's is 147 pages - with quantifiable targets and delivery dates for every ministry. Same ministers (mostly). Same policies. Totally different genre. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

"The Most Business Friendly Country in Europe"

A Deep Dive into the Government Program

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The privately funded Congressional Delegation to Moldova, organized by USMI, was supposed to arrive this week. It never came. No cancellation notice. No explanation. Here's what we know - and what we may never find out: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Moldova’s new PM has told the cabinet to tighten their belts, though - one minister didn’t have time as he was out after 3 days. Also, Moldova’s self styled “Chief Rabbi” is implicated in a plot to smuggle rocket launchers. This Week's Roundup: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Moldova has a new prime Minister. Vasile Tofan received a vote of confidence for his largely unchanged cabinet and program focused on 5 priorities: economic growth, EU accession by 2028, a leaner/digital state, security and quality of life. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Half the organizations listed as "partners" by the USMI say they have no relationship with the group. Not one has confirmed a partnership. USMI is bringing a Congressional Delegation to Moldova this week on the strength of that claimed network. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Vasile Tofan will seek a parliamentary mandate next Thursday, President Sandu attends the Coalition of the Willing, another drone crashes in Moldova, and the scandals rumble on. All this and more in the Weekly Roundup. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Who's actually paying for a privately funded CODEL to Moldova this month? The founder of the organizing non-profit personally paid $45k to fund a Shor-linked politician's DC lobbying efforts. And this isn't his first CODEL. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Vasile Tofan has been nominated as Moldova’s next prime minister. Who is he, what does his selection tell us about PAS’s direction, and can a private-sector reformer succeed in Moldova’s political system? My take in Moldova Matters open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Two interim prime ministers in less than a week. MoldATSA allegations keep expanding. PAS is expelling members, promising reforms and trying to regain control of the narrative - while new scandals keep breaking. This week's roundup: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

If you have a bad experience with a plumber, you don’t call an HVAC specialist the next time your toilet clogs. You call a better plumber. It's time to put the myth of the technocrat behind us and focus on the best politician for each political job. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Moldova’s government has fallen after Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu abruptly resigned this morning. He cited his “principles and beliefs.” President Sandu denied any major conflict - and publicly criticized his leadership. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Prime Minister Munteanu Resigns, Bringing Down Moldova’s Government

Quick Hit: The unexpected departure follows weeks of controversy over tax reforms, MoldATSA and the management of state-owned companies

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Guest post by Iulian Groza: Moldova is no longer a problem to be managed. It is a partner - and an emerging security provider. After a week of meetings in Washington, Groza makes the case for why supporting Moldova is a strategic investment. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Moldova’s government had a rough week. • Tax reform is rapidly unraveling • The MoldATSA scandal claims another resignation Plus a new disinformation campaign confuses the story on union. This week's roundup: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Pilot for Air Canada? more like "Microsoft Flight Simulator enthusiast." An investigation by ZdG into a forged CV has turned into the biggest scandal in corporate governance or public appointments so far this year. Here are the latest updates: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

A fake pilot. A communications director earning 120,000 lei/month. A state company where salaries exploded. What started as a ZdG investigation into MoldATSA’s director has become one of Moldova’s strangest governance scandals of the year. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Yesterday I explained what Moldova’s proposed tax reform does. Today: what I think. There are some genuinely excellent ideas in this package. There are also some serious mistakes - in timing, process and execution. My perspective: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Simplification or tax increase? Moldova’s massive proposed tax reform would touch nearly every household and business in the country. Here’s a guide to what is changing - and why. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Bombshell investigation from @ZiarulDe: the head of Moldova’s air regulator fabricated his CV, falsely claiming he studied aviation at a prestigious Canadian institution and worked as a pilot for AirCanada. His missions were secret, he says 1/3 www.zdg.md/investigatii...

Zborul spre șefia Moldatsa, pe aripile unui CV cu informații false: „misiunile secrete” și controversele din jurul lui Dumitru Vangheli

Dumitru Vangheli, șeful Întreprinderii de Stat „Moldatsa”, cu un salariu de circa 110 mii de lei lunar, a inclus informații false în CV-ul cu care a câștigat funcția în urma unui concurs organizat de ...

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How did Ilan Shor go from being banned from entering Russia to becoming a key figure in the country’s financial architecture? Three major investigations this week offer new insights. Plus: new EU sanctions and Moldova’s other top stories of the week. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Moldova’s EU accession process has moved from theory to practice. The opening of Cluster 1 is a major milestone, but the real question is whether the other 5 clusters follow quickly enough to keep the 2030 target alive. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

After months of delays, Moldova and Ukraine could begin formal EU accession negotiations as early as this month. Also this week: Trump nominates a new ambassador to Moldova after a two-year vacancy. The latest Moldova Matters roundup: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Russian drones struck a residential apartment building in Romania overnight, injuring civilians. Also, polls suggest that a majority of Transnistrians would support reintegration with Moldova. This week's roundup: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Moldova says it wants to join the EU by 2030. Much of Europe quietly thinks that’s unrealistic. The gap isn’t really about reforms or procedure - it’s about radically different assumptions regarding Europe’s future, security and time itself. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

A drone flew the length of Moldova. Russia escalated messaging around Transnistria. Kremlin-linked hybrid campaigns spread across Europe. And Moldova somehow found itself in a Eurovision meltdown. This week’s Moldova Matters roundup: open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Former Deputy Mayor Irina Gutnic is accusing Mayor Ceban of political abuse, illegal practices, propaganda networks funded through municipal enterprises and more. I unpack the growing scandal and why this matters politically for Ceban and MAN. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Romania’s government collapsed after PSD joined AUR in a no confidence vote. Also in this week’s roundup part 2 : the EPC summit, new parliamentary rules, inflation, fuel prices, and Moldova’s debut at the Venice Biennale. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

A newly formed US nonprofit is organizing a privately funded congressional delegation (CODEL) to Moldova. The organization has little visible operating history, unclear funding sources, and links to past Moldova lobbying efforts. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Press freedom is collapsing globally, but Moldova is moving up. Ranked 31st in the world - ahead of the US and all EU candidates - Moldova is a rare success story in a very bad year. But the system behind that success is fragile. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...

Moldova pardons and swaps a convicted ex-intelligence chief to bring home two detained SIS officers. Also in this week’s roundup: storms, security tensions, and escalating drone risk in Romania and Moldova. open.substack.com/pub/moldovam...