Speaker: Administrative-territorial reform must ensure predictable transfer of powers and resources

Administrative-territorial reform should be discussed less in terms of the names of future administrative units and more in relation to property, taxation, powers and budgetary resources. Speaker Igor Grosu made the statement following discussions with district presidents and city mayors, in the context of the Government’s presentation of the concept for reorganizing second-level local public administration.


“The impressions I had yesterday from the meeting with district presidents and city mayors were very good. I followed what appeared in the public space, and it somehow aligns with the public’s expectations. I would urge that discussions focus less on the name—what the administrative seat or administrative center will be called—and more on issues related to property, taxation, powers and the budgetary component. In other words, we must ensure that this entire transfer will be predictable,” Igor Grosu explained.


According to the concept, the 32 districts are to be reorganized into three regions—North, Centre and South—while the municipalities of Chișinău and Bălți will retain their current status, the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia will continue to have special status, and Taraclia is proposed to become a second-level municipality.

Igor Grosu stressed that the specialists currently working in district councils will also be needed in the new administrative structure. They may work in larger mayoralties, deconcentrated services or the administrative offices of future regional administrations.


“We need their capabilities and expertise. I invite them to find positions either in the newly created large mayoralties, because we will have mayoralties reaching 42,000 people—for example, Ungheni—or more than 20,000, if I am not mistaken, in Călărași; Cantemir will grow from 2,400 to 17,000, Cimișlia and so on. So they will find places in the future structure of larger mayoralties, in the future staff or administration—the administrative office of the regions. We need these people and their experience,” Grosu added.


At the same time, Grosu said that services intended for citizens would remain at the local level, while property and public services would not be “taken away” from localities. According to him, judicial and police jurisdictions, as well as the structures of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, CTAS and CNAS, will not be changed by this reform.

Regarding representation at the regional level, Grosu said that the current mechanism is proposed to be retained: regional councillors would be elected directly by citizens, while the president and vice-president of the region would be elected indirectly by the regional council.


“District councillors are elected directly, while the presidents and vice-presidents are elected indirectly, exactly as is currently the case: district councillors elect the district president and vice-president,” the official explained.


Referring to criticism from PSRM leader Igor Dodon concerning the need to amend the Constitution, Igor Grosu said that the reform does not involve eliminating any of the levels of public administration.


“There are three levels of representation: the central level, the second level and the first level. We are not changing anything; we are keeping the same three levels. There is the central level, the second level, which will be represented by seven administrative-territorial units: three regions, the municipalities of Chișinău and Bălți, the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia and Taraclia, and the first level. The second level remains,” he explained.


Grosu urged people to consult the constitutional provisions and said that, if there are legal objections, they can be challenged before the Constitutional Court.

He also said that the authorities intend to adopt the legislative package on the new administrative-territorial structure in October-November, so that the new framework will be known approximately one year before the next general local elections. He noted that this timetable had been discussed with the State Chancellery and the Government. The concept presented by the Government is currently at the consultation stage, while the legislative package is due to be submitted to Parliament in the autumn of 2026.

The concept for reorganizing second-level local public administration, presented by the Government on October 1, was discussed with district presidents and city mayors from across the country. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Speaker Igor Grosu and Government Secretary General Alexei Buzu participated in the discussions.