CALM members continue to insist on the need for real dialog and warn of the risks associated with the rushed and superficial nature of the process of merging mayoralties.
The organization emphasizes several aspects. In their opinion, the proposed concept contains attacks on the small mayoralties, which make up 70-80% of all localities in the country. It is the central policies in the field of local government that have led to a lack of infrastructure and a low tax base.
As for the promises of additional funding and strengthening administrative capacities, they are not supported by clear guarantees, especially in the context of the current socio-economic situation and a budget deficit of 20 billion lei.
The topic of districts has almost disappeared from the discussions, although district councils should be the starting point of the process.
Communities have three months left for voluntary unification
The reform is moving with excessive haste, with only three months left for communities to voluntarily merge.
We would like to remind you that the government presented the Concept of the local public administration reform on April 8 this year. It was noted that it is not a final decision, but serves as a basis for a new stage of public consultations.
And on April 9, as previously reported Logos Press, the Parliament adopted in the first reading the draft law on amendments to some normative acts (“improving the mechanism of voluntary unification of administrative-territorial units”). It will allow to make decisions on the unification of mayoralties by a simple majority of votes of local councilors instead of two-thirds, as it is now.
