Moldova has, for the first time in its history, fallen into the category of countries with an “unfree economy” in the Index of Economic Freedom 2026, ranking just 101st out of 176 countries.
This is the worst result in all the years of the country’s “independence” and an undisputed anti-record during the rule of Maia Sandu and the Party of Action and Solidarity (Romanian: Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate, PAS). Notably, in 2021, when the current team had only just come to power, Moldova was ranked 85th. Since then, it has continued its steady course toward “European integration.” Where that course has led is now reflected in the Index of Economic Freedom 2026: minus 15 positions in five years — hardly an impressive result.
Among the Worst in Europe
When compared to countries across the European continent, the picture looks even more bleak. Moldova is now second from last. It is even ranked below Belarus and Russia, which are not aspiring to join the EU.
Experts from The Heritage Foundation, which compiles the ranking, concluded that the country has failed to develop устойчивые основы for economic freedom, and those that do exist are not protected by law. All of this, critics argue, is the result of failures by the ruling authorities: the economy has not even reached its potential performance levels, the legal culture remains extremely weak, while bureaucracy, lack of transparency, and an absence of independent courts continue to persist.
Expert Assessment
“The foundations of economic freedom in Moldova are not firmly established and are not well protected. Overall progress in achieving sound macroeconomic management and improving the business environment has been uneven. The country’s economic performance is below potential, and weak rule of law undermines the prospects for more dynamic long-term economic development. Moldova has implemented some regulatory reforms, but bureaucracy and lack of transparency continue to make the creation and operation of private enterprises burdensome,” the experts note.
Institutional Failures
Will Chișinău accuse The Heritage Foundation of disinformation? After all, there is already a law for that.
The Index of Economic Freedom measures not GDP size, but the quality of institutions. And in this regard, critics argue that Moldova, under the leadership of PAS, has failed across all key indicators.
Instead of the promised fight against corruption, there are claims of politically motivated criminal cases against the opposition. Instead of judicial reform, critics point to the appointment of loyal judges and laws being changed to fit specific individuals — for example, in appointments to the prosecutor vetting commission. The departure of investors from the country, they argue, reflects the real state of business protection.
The result is second from last place in Europe and 101st globally — and inclusion in the category of countries with an unfree economy.
