Viorel Furdui, Chair of CALM
The organization emphasizes that these actions violate the principle of local autonomy and contradict the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova. In accordance with the country’s Constitution, matters of local public administration fall within the jurisdiction of Parliament and must be regulated by an organic law.
At the same time, the Law on Local Public Administration does not provide for a relationship of subordination between central and local authorities, except in cases expressly established by law.
Outside the Legal Framework
Therefore, according to the organization’s members, the administrative-territorial reform is being carried out outside the legal framework.
Furthermore, the State Chancellery and other central authorities have no right to set mandatory deadlines for local self-government bodies or to issue instructions to them regarding the implementation of the reform.
In this context, CALM asserts that the set deadline—July 31, 2026—for the voluntary merger of city administrations has no legal force, as it is based solely on a draft reform concept that has not been officially approved. According to members of the organization, no current regulatory act specifies this date as a mandatory deadline.
The organization has prepared a public appeal to the country’s leadership, calling on them to intervene to restore the rule of law and resume dialogue with local government bodies.
In its appeal, CALM also calls on the Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate officials for abuse of power and exceeding their official authority, and on the Information and Security Service to assess potential risks to local democracy.
As Logos Press previously reported, late last week, Government Secretary-General Alexei Buza confirmed that 165 mayors across the country had already approved the merger decisions.
