Moldova’s administrative reform faces challenge over local self-government rights
Former Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) MP Olesea Stamate has launched a petition against the government’s proposed territorial and administrative reform, arguing that it violates European standards on local self-government.
In a video address, Stamate accused the PAS government of pushing ahead with the changes without adequate public consultation or a proper assessment of their financial and administrative consequences.
According to the former MP, Moldova’s administrative reform breaches at least three provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, a fundamental Council of Europe document ratified by Moldova in 1998.
She said the civic movement Building Trust had already submitted a formal complaint to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Strasbourg, which monitors compliance with the Charter among Council of Europe member states.
“The territorial and administrative reform proposed by the government violates at least three articles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. The Building Trust civic movement has informed the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities in Strasbourg about this,” Stamate said.
Her intervention places the government’s reform plans under scrutiny not only at home but also within a European institution responsible for protecting local democratic rights.
Petition calls for withdrawal and proper public consultation
Alongside its appeal to Strasbourg, Building Trust has launched an online petition demanding that the government withdraw its current reform proposal.
Stamate stressed that she does not oppose territorial and administrative reform in principle. Her objection concerns the way the government has prepared and promoted the changes.
She believes the proposal should undergo proper expert scrutiny, meaningful consultation with citizens and a comprehensive assessment of its costs, risks and likely consequences before being taken forward.
“Let me be absolutely clear: we are not against territorial and administrative reform, but we are firmly opposed to the way it is being carried out. Without genuine consultation with citizens, without assessing the costs, the consequences and so on,” she said.
The distinction matters. Stamate is not calling for the existing administrative system to remain unchanged, but for the government to demonstrate that its proposed replacement has been properly examined and enjoys sufficient public consultation.
Her criticism also raises questions about the gap between the government’s declared European integration ambitions and the standards established by the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
The former MP urged supporters to circulate both her video address and the petition widely, seeking to bring the campaign to the attention of as many citizens as possible.
“I strongly ask you to share this video as widely as possible so that the information and the petition reach as many citizens as possible. Thank you!”
She concluded by repeating the central message of her campaign:
“We are not against reform. We are against reform being done back to front!”
The petition adds another challenge to Moldova’s administrative reform, with critics now seeking both domestic public support and scrutiny from the Council of Europe.
For Stamate, the central issue is whether a reform intended to modernise local administration can be justified if the government has not adequately consulted the communities it will affect.
