Moldova president appoints acting prime minister

A former World Bank economist, Sandu defeated the pro-Moscow incumbent Igor Dodon in last month’s presidential election, promising to fight endemic corruption and put Moldova’s relations with the European Union back on track. 

Career diplomat Ciocoi was Dodon’s foreign policy adviser before taking over as foreign minister. Previously he was also ambassador to China and to the United States. 

The government of former Prime Minister Ion Chicu resigned last week, paving the way for the formation of a new cabinet. 

The eastern European country of 3.5 million, where the West and Russia vie for influence, has been rocked in recent years by instability and corruption scandals, including the disappearance of $1 billion from the banking system.