Government accelerates administrative changes
The Moldovan government has approved changes to simplify the procedure for merging villages and communes, including removing the rule that limited the distance between a settlement and its new administrative centre to 25 kilometres.
Following a cabinet meeting, Minister Alexei Buzu said the number of decisions to initiate mergers had increased from 71 to 208 over the past three months. He said this indicated that local officials are recognising their responsibilities, though he did not comment on how residents view the proposed changes.
Concerns raised by local representatives
The initiative has drawn criticism from some legal experts and local authorities. Lawyer Dmitry Kiseev argued that the reform may be driven more by political considerations than by local needs.
He suggested that consolidating municipalities could make administrative coordination easier, particularly in the context of local governance and upcoming elections. “This makes it easier to manage territories through a smaller number of local actors,” he said.
Members of the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) have also expressed concerns, stating that the draft law could negatively affect local self-governance. In particular, they warned that removing the 25-kilometre limit may reduce access to essential services for residents of more remote villages.
Financial incentives and public consultation
Another issue raised is the lack of clear long-term financial support for communities that agree to merge. Critics say the proposal does not outline sufficient incentives or guarantees for participating localities.
Administrative consolidation has been discussed in Moldova for several years, with previous attempts facing difficulties due to limited public consultation. While Buzu said the State Chancellery had conducted consultations with representatives at various levels, opposition figures argue that many residents feel insufficiently involved in the decision-making process.
