Such opinions were expressed during a press conference on the topic “Voluntary (forced) merger of mayoralties and local self-government reform: main risks for Moldova”. It was organized by the “Alliance of Moldovans” party (APAM). The participants disagreed with the merger procedure, which is part of the Public Administration Reform Strategy for 2023-2030, calling on the government to abandon its implementation.
How many mayoralties will be reduced
“The strategy stipulates that 35% of mayoralties have less than 1,500 inhabitants, the public space talks about 62%, and the government report mentions that the reform will reduce over 800 local self-government bodies over time,” said Elena Merjineanu, a doctor of law. – So how many mayoralties will be reduced? There can’t be such big contradictions in official sources. And if there are, who will take the responsibility? What is the specific list of mayoralties with less than 1,500 residents that could be merged? Are there specific plans for geographic proximity? How will the infrastructure be improved? Such plans have not yet been presented to us.”
Centralization instead of decentralization
She criticized the government’s argument that small mayoralties lack administrative capacity. And she reminded that, according to the regulations, regional development agencies are obliged to assist local authorities. It is more logical to reform these agencies than to eliminate the decision-making factor at the first level – the mayor’s office.
The lawyer touched upon another “delicate” point of the strategy. It is envisaged to transfer responsibility for education, health care and social assistance to decentralized services of ministries.
According to her, this approach, in fact, represents a form of centralization “in its purest form”, as the decision remains in the center, while the execution – at the local level.
A unified approach is needed
Elena Merjineanu also rejected the concept of “asymmetric decentralization”, which implies unequal distribution of powers and financial resources between administrative-territorial units, taking into account the specific features of the regions, as opposed to the unitary approach.
Administrative-territorial units of the same level should function on the basis of a single legal framework, and granting different powers and financial resources, depending on the association, will create legal inequality, said Dr. Law.
