Prime Minister Shake-Up: President Maia Sandu has nominated businessman and financier Vasile Tofan as Moldova’s next prime minister, kicking off a 15-day parliamentary vote process after Alexandru Munteanu’s resignation; Tofan’s pitch is clear: restore public trust, revive the economy, and keep EU accession on track—aiming to sign the accession agreement by end-2028. EU Accession Momentum: Sandu met EU and G7 ambassadors in Chisinau and highlighted the EU’s decision to open Cluster 6 (External Relations), pushing Moldova to align foreign, security and trade policy with Brussels. Business & Jobs Focus: Tofan framed economic recovery as a “ground-level” task—supporting farms, factories and IT—while insisting politics and business must work as a team to improve living standards. Education Reform Debate: In Chisinau, Mayor Ion Ceban called for a consultative referendum on the RESTART education reform, arguing the public hasn’t seen a clear concept or impact details. Identity & Diplomacy Row: German Ambassador Hubert Knirsch’s remarks denying a Romanian identity for Bessarabia sparked sharp backlash from Romanian MP Daniel Gheorghe, escalating a sensitive identity dispute alongside the EU political agenda. Travel Rules Watch: Germany published its 2026 visa-free list of 62 countries for up to 90 days, including Moldova.