Government simplifies voluntary amalgamation process

The process of voluntary amalgamation of administrative-territorial units has been simplified and streamlined to meet the needs of communities in our country. In this regard, the Government today approved an amendment to the Methodology for the voluntary amalgamation of administrative-territorial units.

The new provisions give localities more flexibility in choosing the administrative center and the name of the new administrative-territorial unit. At the same time, the decision on amalgamation will be able to be adopted by a majority vote of the elected councilors, and the fixed limit of 25 kilometers between localities has been removed.

A central element of the reform is the establishment of a minimum threshold of 3,000 inhabitants for the operation of a city hall.

The project also stipulates that public services will be maintained at the local level, including through unified service centers, so that residents will not have to travel to the city hall in the administrative center of the new unit. In addition, no early elections will be organized in amalgamated localities before the 2027 local elections.

Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu said today at the Cabinet meeting that the authorities will triple the incentives for localities involved in the voluntary amalgamation process, and starting from 2027 significant investments will be made in localities, with a total budget of 6.4 billion lei.


“We are introducing more flexibility and eliminating the obligation to hold new local elections during the consolidation process. We will triple the basic incentive for developing this process. Starting in 2027, we will bring massive investments to our localities through serious projects that address relevant problems of citizens. We have a package of over 6.4 billion lei for this purpose. The possibility for the first incentive, intended for preparing the consolidation process, to be used more flexibly, including for establishing those unified service delivery centers, will ensure that our citizens have broader access to services in hospitals and to much higher-quality and more transparent administrative services. We have introduced more flexibility regarding the selection of the administrative center, we are reducing bureaucracy, and we are ensuring that this process is truly focused on the needs of the localities,” Alexei Buzu emphasized.


The official pointed out that the amendments were proposed after extensive consultations with citizens and local elected representatives.


“We conducted a broad consultation process with local representatives. We talked to over 4,500 local representatives, citizens and civil society. We tried to see how we could simplify this process of merging and consolidation, which needs we could address, and what the visions are regarding local public administration,” said Alexei Buzu.


According to him, 663 decisions have so far been approved to initiate the amalgamation process, covering 767 city halls and about 86% of all city halls in the Republic of Moldova. “This shows an interest and an understanding that the time has come to consolidate in the name of local development for better services for people,” argued Alexei Buzu.

Today’s Government meeting was attended by mayor of Călinești village, Fălești, Ala Procopciuc, a locality that has already gone through the amalgamation process, as well as the mayors of two other localities currently involved in the consolidation process: mayor of Bubuieci, Chișinău, Alexei Percempli, and mayor of Parcova, Edineț, Marcel Snegur.

Călinești mayor Ala Procopciuc stressed that the reform is necessary and even urgent, and the citizens of the localities she administers are satisfied with its effects.