Local government reform discussed in public consultations with mayors in the north of the country
The closure of some of Moldova's town halls will cut costs and improve the quality of services provided to citizens. These are just some of the benefits of administrative reorganisation discussed in public consultations with mayors in the north of the country.
Some mayors fear the reform will fail and increase migration.
"If we unite, it means there will be no school or kindergarten in that village because they will go to where the commune is, that's what we will do. Today we are wasting time for nothing," said the mayor of the village of Mihalașeni, Leonid Turcanu.
On the other hand, some local authorities want to optimise their town halls in order to reduce bureaucracy in the territory, but also for a qualitative and efficient activity.
"Schools will not be closed, kindergartens will not be closed, it will only be for the benefit of citizens. Really, we work in the town hall and it happens that only one citizen comes to our reception in a month. Now everything is done online, allowances, pensions, everything. We need quality services, but not incompetent officials, because in most villages in the republic there are retired employees who don't even know how to use a computer", says the secretary of the council of Hăsnășenii Mari, Gabriela Chiriac.
"We need to study, to see if we can manage. We say today that we succeed, but it's hard until we have practice," says the mayor of the village of Sudarca, Oleg Dediu.
Mechanisms and criteria for selecting the municipalities to be subject to liquidation are currently being worked out. A decisive factor will be the number of inhabitants.
"There is no fear. Taking into account that people migrate, we have a small population, the reform has to be done because we have no choice, but it has to be well thought out and weighed. We don't have a project specialist in the town hall and we are losing a lot in this respect. We have to pay third parties for projects", says the mayor of Cajba village, Igor Macovei.
The first stage of the reform of local public administration is voluntary amalgamation, which involves the voluntary merger of two or more first-level administrative units.
"This is the first step towards making local public administration more efficient. It is a step that has been needed for decades. Now, with small but sure steps, in consultation with citizens and mayors, we will be able to achieve success", says Vladimir Rusu, head of the Balti territorial office of the State Chancellery.
The draft law on the voluntary amalgamation of administrative-territorial units was approved in the first reading by Parliament. The state will provide financial support to the localities that decide to merge.
"The first step is the approval of this bill. The next step is for the government to draw up the two methodologies and I want them to be widely discussed. They will bring more clarity on how the amalgamation and post-amalgamation process will take place, i.e. how these localities will integrate, how they will collaborate and develop together," says PAS MP Larisa Voloh.
Half of Moldova's municipalities have fewer than 2,000 inhabitants, and several others are at risk of disappearing.
