Ionita: Minister Boasting of a 2% Economic Growth Should Be Fired

Economist Veaceslav Ionita criticized official statements about the economic prospects of the Republic of Moldova. According to him, accepting an economic growth rate of 2-3% is a “shame” for a country located in Europe and with clear European aspirations, according to bani.md. “When I see someone celebrating a 2-3-5% growth, and the minister talks about a GDP below 5%, that minister should be fired. Just fired. We need to ensure at least a 5% growth,” Ionita said. The economist emphasized that, with an average global growth rate of about 3.5%, the Republic of Moldova continues to lag behind. “Over the past 60 years, we have grown by an average of 2%. This means that every year we lose ground compared to the rest of the world. It’s a shame to be in the center of Europe and have such a weak economy,” he said. Despite the criticism, Veaceslav Ionita expressed optimism about 2026, believing that there are no significant vulnerabilities, except for the risks associated with the war in Ukraine. “In terms of inflation, we are likely to move towards 5%. After the price shock, the real estate market will enter a calm period, and people will gradually return to buying,” the economist said. In addition, Ionita dismissed alarming predictions of explosive and unbalanced growth. “Let’s not talk nonsense about a 25% growth in one quarter. In reality, 2025 was better than 2024, and in 2026, we have all the prerequisites for a much better year than 2025,” he concluded.