News about Territorial reform
The Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) criticizes the government’s new decree on administrative-territorial reform and accuses the executive branch of lacking real consultation with local authorities.
The authorities have abolished the condition that set a maximum distance of 25 kilometers between the administrative centers of the administrative-territorial units involved in the process of voluntary unification (amalgamation). The decision was adopted by the government on Wednesday, May 27.
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu announced the organization of a national event “Strong City Halls – Developed Localities” to be held on May 29 at the Great National Assembly Square.
The government is establishing territorial education agencies, which will take over the management of schools from the district councils. These agencies will report directly to the Ministry of Education and Enlightenment. The authorities explain the reform by the need to, among other things, “depoliticize” the local education system, while the opposition calls it “centralization”.
The Ministry of Education and Research is launching the Restart program, which involves the transfer of district education departments to the ministry. Previously, a similar program was implemented in the field of social protection.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu made a video message in which she said that the reform of the local public administration is one of the most difficult, but at the same time vital changes launched in the country for the development of Moldovan villages and towns.
About 200 residents of Boroganj village, Leova district, participated in a meeting on the administrative-territorial reform and unification process. Following the discussions, the participants voted against unification. They will send an official appeal to the State Chancellery.
To date, local councils in Moldovan localities have approved 608 decisions to start voluntary unification of mayoralties.
The forthcoming reform of local public authorities continues to agitate the villages. On Sunday, May 17 this year, a general meeting of the village was held in Petresti commune, Ungheni district. Two important topics were discussed: the results of the 2024 census and the initiative of voluntary unification.
Today, against the background of the possible opening of negotiations on Moldova’s accession to the European Union, discussions on the quality of public administration, opportunities and risks of economic development and, consequently, the need to reintegrate the country are intensifying in the public space.
Representatives of local and regional authorities of Latvia shared their experience of transformation of local public administration and effective utilization of European funds.
The reform of local public administration cannot be postponed any longer, 2026 is the only appropriate period for its adoption, “the next train is in 2031”. This statement was made by the Speaker of Parliament Igor Grosu at the “Civic Assembly” on Saturday, May 16.
In the process of reforming the administrative-territorial structure in Moldova, there is a risk that some small settlements may find themselves in a less favorable position and actually become “forgotten”. Liliana Iaconi, chairwoman of the parliamentary commission for public administration and regional development, told Logos Press in an interview.
After the enlargement of localities, the key change should be not just a new administrative structure, but also the expansion of local authorities’ powers. According to the chairwoman of the parliamentary commission for public administration and regional development, Liliana Iaconi, larger mayoralties should receive additional tools in the field of local tax policy, which will make it possible to increase the investment attractiveness of the territories.
Interview with Liliana Iaconi, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Commission for Public Administration and Regional Development.
This was stated by Dumitru Roibu, chairman of the “Alliance of Moldovans” party, on the air of a national TV channel, commenting on the local self-government reform carried out by the authorities and on the process of merging mayoralties.
From 16-17 May and 30-31 May 2026, Chisinau will host a “Civic Assembly” organized by the Parliament, the European Partnership for Democracy and the Centre for Politics and Reforms.
Taraclia district mayors warn: the current formula of merging the mayoralties ignores geographical and ethnic specificity, threatening the disappearance of 80% of the villages, local identity and service infrastructure.
Leova Mayor Alexandru Bujorian believes that the reform of local authorities did not start with the most important component – tax decentralization, and the experience of Leova cannot be automatically transferred to the villages.
The document entitled “On the transitional mechanism of legal regulation of regional elections to the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia of the VIII convocation in 2026” was agreed upon by representatives of Chisinau and Comrat at a meeting on May 11.
