Alexandru Munteanu
This is how Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu responded on a TV channel to the doubts and criticism of the representatives of local authorities about the upcoming changes. He specified that the government is preparing the legal framework for the voluntary unification of communes.
“Many people hear about the reform, but do not understand what will happen,” he noted. – People ask whether it will be an ostentatious reform or a serious one. I confidently say: we do not want to do anything for appearances. Neither administrative reform, nor others. We want to do serious things.
Large communes will provide better services
Alexandru Munteanu emphasized that the reform is largely conditioned by demography. Many villages and communes have less than a thousand inhabitants, and depopulation makes it difficult to maintain quality public services.
Larger settlements will be able to provide more efficient administrative, educational and medical services.
“There is a European and world practice: communes should be large. In Moldova, many of them are small. Besides, many young people have left the country,” the prime minister explained. – We have schools with less than 100 pupils, and in several cases, with only 10 pupils each. It is impossible to ensure a quality educational process in such conditions. Besides, people should have real access to medical services.
The solution of the problems depends on the development of road infrastructure, as quality roads provide access to services at acceptable distances – up to 10 kilometers.
Incentives for voluntary association
The Prime Minister stressed that the reorganization will not be imposed, but agreed with local communities. Some 400 mayors have already expressed their willingness to participate in the process, he said.
“We are in favor of voluntary mergers. The mergers will be carried out when the mayors agree among themselves,” Alexandru Munteanu promised.
The government intends to offer financial and administrative incentives to encourage reorganization.
These measures may include payments or other forms of support for local elected representatives who will give up office as a result of reorganization.
The prime minister said that open consultations with the local authorities are under way to identify solutions suitable for each community, taking into account their advantages and disadvantages.
The concept of the local public administration reform will be presented at the end of February – beginning of March this year. Then, all the technical aspects of the reform will be finalized, and the drafts will be submitted to the Parliament in autumn.
