In a surprising announcement, Moldova's Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu tendered his resignation on Friday, citing a loss of alignment with his principles as the reason. His departure triggers the resignation of the entire government, creating a challenge for President Maia Sandu and her pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), now in its second consecutive term. According to Moldova's parliamentary procedure, consultations will be held between Sandu and parliamentary groups, following which she will nominate a new prime ministerial candidate. The resignation comes amidst growing scrutiny over the management of a state-owned aviation company, MoldATSA, with allegations of questionable appointments and governance. Reports suggest that the director of MoldATSA falsified his CV, and a cousin of the president was appointed to a public relations role, receiving salary increases that made her payout eight times Moldova's median wage. A special investigative committee has been established to examine the management of state-owned companies, focusing on recruitment procedures for senior positions, board composition, and cases involving individuals holding roles in multiple public institutions. Munteanu was appointed following parliamentary elections in September 2025, where PAS secured a renewed mandate to drive Moldova's European Union (EU) integration efforts. Before his appointment, he worked outside Moldova for approximately 20 years, including for the World Bank. President Sandu has denied that Munteanu was restricted in his government action and expressed hope for greater involvement from him in difficult decisions and a stronger public presence to address citizens' concerns and explain necessary reforms.