Valeriu Lazar resigned from the post of Minister of Economy. The Democratic Party took the steps required for Deputy Head of Parliament and deputy chairman of the PDM Andrian Candu to fill this post instead of Lazar, the Democrats’ leader Marian Lupu announced in a news conference after the meeting of the party’s extended Permanent Bureau held in the evening of July 2, IPN reports.
Marian Lupu said that Valeriu Lazar tendered his resignation of his own free will, not as a result of disagreements, conflicts or resentment. The PDM’s group in Parliament hasn’t yet decided who will replace Andrian Candu as Deputy Speaker.
Valeriu Lazar said that he offered his resignation a year ago, but, as he was directly involved in the negotiations on the Association Agreement that includes the DCFTA, he decided to remain until the accord is ratified. “It is a personal decision taken earlier, but I felt the need to complete the task entrusted to me by the party,” he stated, adding that he has worked at the Ministry of Economy for 20 years and has held the exhausting post of Minister of Economy for five years and thus needs a change, as everyone.
Andrian Candu was proposed for the post of Minister of Economy by Valeriu Lazar himself. In the same news conference, Andrian Candu said this is one of the most important ministries. “It is a challenge for me, also because the ministry was managed by a person like Valeriu Lazar, who has extraordinary qualities, great experience and capacities. It’s not what I thought I will do in the last part of the mandate, but politics in Moldova make you be ready for any twist. It is a challenge because there are periods full of provocations and we probably have a hot autumn ahead,” he said.
The procedural applications were submitted to Prime Minister Iurie Leanca and President Nicolae Timfoti.
Valeriu Lazar held the post of Minister of Economy in the Governments Filat 1 and Filat 2 and in the current Leanca Government. He is the deputy chairman of the PDM and has served with the Ministry of Economy since 1994.
Andrian Candu was named Deputy Head of Parliament in May 2013.
