The map of Moldova will change. The government proposes to reduce the number of districts from 32 to 10 as part of the reform, but has not yet specified which districts will be abolished and which will remain.
Government Secretary General Alexei Buzu explained that the new, larger administrative units will be able to better manage important regional projects, allowing for more efficient use of resources.
Three large regions
Vadim Roşca, Chairman of the Făleşti district, draws attention to the high costs of the reform and the risk of its improper implementation. He believes that the proposed structure may not be sufficient for the implementation of large projects, including European ones, and proposes a structure based on three large regions – North, Central and South.
In addition, in his opinion, cities should have a larger population, at least 5000-7000 inhabitants, to ensure a balanced distribution of investments.
Roszka emphasizes that the reform should be carried out in one stage, even if it initially causes shock, to avoid additional costs in the long run.
For his part, Leova district chairman Nicolae Popa states that he participated in the consultations organized by the government, but no details about the final number of administrative units were provided during the discussion. At the same time, in his opinion, the reform is necessary even if there is uncertainty about the future of Leova district.
Concentration around already developed centers
The head of Ungheni district, Dionisie Ternovski, also supports the need for reform, but believes that the new structure should be built around already developed centers. He argues that Ungheni has an advantage in size and infrastructure, and after unification with other municipalities, its population will reach about 40,000 inhabitants.
According to him, economic development and existing connections, including road infrastructure and cross-border projects, place Ungheni among the most important in the country, so it should be the center of the new regional unit.
Ternovski also notes that in practice, the Ungheni-Călăraş-Sîngerei zone of influence has already been defined, which could become the basis of the new structure.
The chairman of the Causeni district, Alexandru Catan, also says that the administrative unit he heads could meet the criteria for becoming a regional center, given its population and administrative potential. However, he clarifies that the final decision belongs to the central authorities.
Katan notes that some internal adjustments have already been made in the run-up to the reform and believes that the reorganization should remain citizen-oriented and not complicate their access to services.
