Moldovan government launches broad consultations on local public administration reform: strong mayoralties for thriving communities

The government is launching the preparatory process for the reform of local public administration, with the most important stage being broad consultations. The goal of the reform is to build thriving localities, strong mayoralties and better services, closer to the people. The consultation process for the reform started today with a discussion with the members of the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM).

“We already have strong mayors and it is important to give them the necessary tools to solve the problems of localities. We are starting a process that will build strong mayoralties for thriving communities,” emphasized Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu in his opening remarks.

The main benefits of the reform will be the availability of more resources to implement projects that improve life in communities. Citizens will also have access to better services and less bureaucracy – people will be able to get the necessary documents at a one-stop shop, in a single location and as close as possible to their place of residence.

“Villages remain – mayoralties merge. In the places from which the mayoralty’s  administration will be relocated, service centers will be created to provide the services that needed by locals – integrating the social assistant, social workers, the assigned police officer, as well as a dedicated community facilitator,” the secretary general of the government specified.

At the same time, it was emphasized that the Government encourages voluntary amalgamation. Procedures will be simplified, more financial resources will be allocated and operational support and guidance will be provided.

The members of the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova supported the need to transform local public administration and expressed openness to being involved at all stages of the process of developing and implementing the reform, stressing the importance of clearly assessing the impact of every decision on the people in each community. In the context of the upcoming reform, mayors raised such topics as fiscal decentralization, the work of deconcentrated services, territorial delimitation, as well as the motivation and capacity-building of staff at mayoralties. CALM Executive Director Viorel Furdui, highlighted the need to reactivate working groups in different areas and to convene the Joint Commission.

The preparation of the reform will have four stages: broad public consultations; presentation of the concept; in-depth discussions with citizens throughout the spring; and, subsequently, drafting the legislative package to be submitted to parliament in the autumn.

In the coming weeks, discussions will be held with mayors, experts, district and local authorities, as well as with civil society. The State Chancellery calls on all citizens, mayors and civil society to participate in the consultations, including by sending proposals to primariiputernice@gov.md.

“This is a complex reform. We will treat your proposals with the utmost diligence and seriousness, and only after consultations will we decide what the final shape of the reform will be. It is important that we make these changes together, responsibly, in order to improve the living standards of all people – both in remote villages and in central cities,” concluded Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu.