CHISINAU — Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced his resignation on July 3, 2026. Munteanu's resignation triggers the resignation of the government. The announcement followed public outcry over reports of high salaries at state-owned companies, including MoldATSA, the state agency for airspace security.

In a post on social media platform X, Munteanu stated, "Today, my term as Prime Minister comes to an end." He added, "The moment I realized that I could no longer carry out my mandate in accordance with my principles and convictions, I chose to step down." Munteanu had served as prime minister since November 2025.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu confirmed that Munteanu would remain in his role until a new prime minister is appointed. Sandu indicated she would hold consultations with parliamentary factions in the week following July 3, 2026, before nominating a candidate. The Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) holds a majority in Moldova's 101-seat parliament.

"Speculation that he wanted to tackle abuses but was prevented from doing so is false," Sandu said. She added, "He had complete freedom to run the government as he saw fit." Sandu also stated that Munteanu decided to step down of his own accord.

Political analyst Vitaliy Andriyevskiy commented, "We are observing an acute governance crisis in Moldova." Munteanu is 62 years old and had worked outside Moldova for approximately 20 years, including for the World Bank, prior to his appointment.

In Moldova, a prime minister's resignation takes effect immediately, with the government continuing in a caretaker capacity until a new cabinet is formed. Sandu said she hoped for a quick resolution.

Moldova, located between Ukraine and Romania, has a Romanian-speaking majority and a Russian-speaking minority. It proclaimed independence in 1991 after being a Soviet republic.