VIDEO // Moldovan government's secretary general says chances for faster development in communities higher when mayoralties

The chances for faster development in settlements with a small number of residents are higher when mayoralties merge, when there are consolidated teams and more opportunities to attract projects and investors. Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu has made statements to this effect. He said that the benefits of the local public administration reform for the development of communities of the country and countered narratives claiming that the initiated reform is a whim or a change without real impact.

Alexei Buzu pointed out that the current fragmentation no longer allowed for the modernization of localities. Thus, according to him, approximately 60 per cent of mayoralties have fewer than 1,500 inhabitants and many localities depend on transfers from the state budget. At the same time, in a fragmented administration, it is difficult to attract European funds and implement major projects. Likewise, too little money remains for investments, while an important share is directed towards salary expenditures, the official said.

“In these conditions, development is slow and public services are limited,” Alexei Buzu noted.

The secretary general of the government added that the reform was not about structures or maps, but about people; it is a necessary and anticipated change – for faster development, jobs, better public services and adequate living conditions.

“The chances for faster development in settlements with a small number of residents are higher when mayoralties merge, when we have consolidated teams and more chances to attract projects and investors. The reform is about people, the reform is awaited by our people, because they expect faster development, better services, jobs and adequate living conditions,” said Alexei Buzu.

In late last January, the government officially announced the launch of the preparatory process for the local public administration reform, as part of efforts to modernize the administration and improve the quality of public services offered to the population.

Secretary General of the Government, Alexei Buzu has recently announced that the draft concept of the local public administration reform would be presented at the end of February–beginning of March. Subsequently, all technical aspects of the reform will be finalized, with the projects to be submitted to parliament in next autumn.

During the past week, government representatives visited seven districts of Moldova to discuss the local public administration (APL) reform. Thus, between 9–13 February 2026, the cabinet organized public consultations on the APL reform in the districts of Drochia, Soroca, Nisporeni, Floresti, Sangerei, Cantemir and Cahul.

Throughout the current week, the meetings continue in the districts of Anenii Noi, Edinet, Donduseni, Rascani, Glodeni, Causeni, Stefan Voda, Hancesti and Ialoveni.

Previously, consultations have been held with mayors’ organizations – the Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) and the Center for European Local Administration (CALE), district presidents, heads of the Territorial Offices of the State Chancellery, development partners, civil society organizations, members of the parliamentary commission for public administration and regional development, parliamentary factions and representatives of extra-parliamentary parties.