Over one thousand voluntary amalgamation decisions approved in Moldova

Over one thousand decisions on voluntary amalgamation have been approved so far, which means that about 70 percent of the Moldova’s mayoralties are involved in this process. The information was presented by the designated Secretary General of the Government, Alexei Buzu, during today’s examination in parliament of the future cabinet’s activity programme.

Alexei Buzu added that during, the current week, 50 mayoralties are finalizing the consolidation and amalgamation process.

The voluntary amalgamation process continues until July 31, and communities that rule to engage in this process will benefit from additional development support provided by the government.

Designated Prime Minister Vasile Tofan said that the reform of local public administration is difficult, but can no longer be avoided. He stressed that the ongoing amalgamation process would be continued and improved where possible, and the intended result is for more money to reach local services and investments.

“The government had the courage to embark on an unpopular, very complicated reform that all previous governments have avoided until now. You need courage to reduce the number of town halls from 900, which is the most fragmented system in Europe, and to bring more prudence to public spending. Our people want public money to be spent better. So, if we insist that the little money we have must be spent better, we have to start with state institutions at all three levels: central, district, and local,” Vasile Tofan said in in the parliament’s plenum.

The voluntary amalgamation process continues until July 31, and starting in August, the government will launch the process of normative amalgamation. In the voluntary stage, localities can decide for themselves with whom they merge, how they organize their administration and what their priorities are, while the government supports the communities with development incentives.