The mayors recognize the need for reform, but it cannot be implemented in a hurry, they reiterate and say that the concept was published recently and has not been sufficiently agreed with citizens, as required by the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
Stella Onutsu, the Mayor of Glodeni, noted the lack of clarity in the process of implementing the reform. She stressed that the preservation of the mayoralties, subject to the regionalization of some services, would be important for the preservation and maintenance of villages.
Ion Munteanu, mayor of the village of Feteşti (Edinet district), doubts the threshold of 3000 inhabitants set for the locality. Moreover, some citizens are not included in the census data, although they pay taxes and contribute to the development of settlements.
The number of inhabitants does not reflect the degree of development of the village
Fedor Golub, the mayor of Vasilkeu commune (Soroca district), pointed out a similar problem, emphasizing that the number of inhabitants does not necessarily reflect the degree of development of a settlement.
Iraida Djitar (Sauca village, Oknita district) drew attention to the fact that mayors are under pressure to finalize unification without proper consultations with the population. The reform should first be well thought out and then implemented, she said.
The mayors emphasized the importance of the mayoralties in strengthening ties between the local population and the diaspora. Ion Fedorutse (Cotiugeni Mici, Syrgerei district) cited the example of Romania, where villages with a population of only 1,500 people were able to attract European funds and develop.
Iurie Gangan, Floresti mayor, stressed that financial decentralization has been discussed for many years, but has not been properly implemented. “Without real decentralization, the reform will not be effective,” he believes.
