Munteanu on idea of making the Chisinau mayor part of the Government: “Not a rational proposal”
"It doesn't seem like a rational idea to me," was the response from Prime Minister-designate Alexandru Munteanu regarding the proposal from the "Alternative" Bloc faction, suggesting that the mayor of Chisinau should also be a member of the Government. These comments were made following consultations with parliamentary factions prior to the Government's inauguration.
"I responded to the mayor's proposal, stating that I am not aware of any historical precedent or European practices that support such an idea," explained Alexandru Munteanu. "The mayor of Paris is not part of the French Government, and the mayor of Bucharest is not a member of the Government of Romania."
According to the prime minister-designate, the functions of the central executive differ significantly from those of local public administration, and having a mayor participate in the Cabinet of Ministers would be unjustified.
"I believe that 90% of the decisions discussed and approved at Government meetings do not pertain to the municipality of Chisinau. They address matters of a different nature, and it would not be a rational use of resources," he added.
Munteanu suggested that if the proposal were adopted, it would also necessitate including mayors from other cities in the Government of the Republic of Moldova.
"I understand there is a political process at play, but from an efficiency perspective, this does not seem like a sound idea," concluded the prime minister-designate.
Meanwhile, Ion Ceban, a leader of the "Alternative" Bloc and the mayor of Chisinau, reiterated his earlier proposal that the capital's mayor hold a position in the Government.
"It would be logical and appropriate for the mayor of Chisinau, home to nearly a million residents and almost half of the population of the Republic of Moldova, to be a member of the Government. As the capital, it generates a significant portion of the state budget that supports the entire country. Collaboration and communication between these two institutions should be direct, rather than relying on various messengers or intermediaries, as has often been the case," stated Ion Ceban.
We remind you that the mayor of the capital was previously an ex-officio member of the Government, according to the Law on Local Public Administration, enacted in 1995. This provision was later repealed during the tenure of the Communist Party.
