Moldova: The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, has made a big change in the government.

The former Prime Minister, Natalia Gavrilita, unexpectedly resigned and was replaced by Dorin Recean, a pro-Western economist and the President’s defense and security advisor.

Recean, who served as Interior Minister from 2012 to 2015, will have 15 days to form a new government and present it to Parliament for a vote.

Moldova, a former Soviet republic with a population of about 2.6 million, is seeking closer ties with its Western partners because of the war in neighboring Ukraine.

The country was granted European Union candidate status last June, at the same time as Ukraine.

Recean says his main focus will be to bring “order and discipline” to Moldova’s institutions, revive the economy, and ensure peace and stability.

Gavrilita, 41 years old when she became Prime Minister in August 2021, said her government faced many challenges, including an energy crisis, inflation, and missile debris from the war in Ukraine.

However, she said that no one expected to manage so many crises caused by Russian aggression.

The State Department deputy spokesman in Washington said Russia had supported campaigns in Moldova for years that involved weaponizing corruption to further its goals.

Sandu thanked Gavrilita for her “enormous sacrifice and efforts” to lead the country during many crises.