Administrative reform based on flexibility: government secretary general announces simplification of voluntary amalgamation process

The Moldovan government is proposing a set of legislative amendments aimed at removing bureaucratic barriers from the process of voluntary amalgamation of localities. Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu presented today a reform package that gives local representatives more decision-making freedom and eliminates the obligation to organize early elections in the event of community mergers.

Extended consultations with local representatives

The Government’s decision to make the legal framework more flexible comes after an extensive consultation process carried out in 29 districts. According to the official, the proposals collected from mayors and councillors formed the basis for simplifying administrative procedures.

"In the consultation process with local representatives, with fellow mayors, with district and local councillors, we collected several proposals aimed at simplifying the voluntary amalgamation process. We have proposed a set of amendments that will provide more flexibility. We will eliminate a number of documents that had to be prepared by local public authorities; some will be simplified, and others will be drafted with the support of the State Chancellery," said Alexei Buzu.

 

Elimination of early elections and freedom to choose the administrative center

One of the most important changes concerns the administrative stability of the new entities created. The Government proposes to remove the requirement that forced the organization of early elections immediately after amalgamation, allowing local elected officials to continue their mandates until the general term.

"It is very important that, in the process of voluntary amalgamation, we eliminate the mandatory condition to organize early elections before the local general elections scheduled for 2027. We will also have more flexibility in selecting the administrative center. It will not be a procedure prescribed by law, but a decision negotiated locally between elected officials and communities," he emphasized.

Digitalization and public services closer to citizens

The administrative reform is accompanied by a major digitalization effort. Alexei Buzu announced that in the near future, the Executive will approve a package of decisions that will finalize the process of digital modernization in Local Public Administration (LPA).

"We will rethink these unified service delivery centers. We will ensure that even more public services will be available to our citizens when, as part of the reform effort, we open these units in localities where the town hall will be amalgamated. We want this reform to belong to all of us," Buzu underlined.

Reducing prescriptive requirements for town halls

The official explained that the current legal framework was too rigid, imposing economic analyses and technical documents that often hindered the process without bringing real benefits.

"These amendments give local authorities more decision-making freedom. We are removing measures that are excessively prescriptive. For example, we are eliminating the obligation for certain economic analyses or characteristics that had to be carried out within a limited time. We are eliminating all these aspects because we understand that it is a dynamic process at the local level. We are keeping only the regulations that add value, and we are removing those that merely complicate the process," he said.

Local public administration reform is a strategic necessity, and postponing it would generate higher costs than its actual implementation, according to Secretary General of the Government Alexei Buzu.

The official rejected the idea that the reorganization of town halls is driven by budgetary savings or electoral calculations, stressing that the main objective is to increase administrative capacity and improve services for citizens.

Further steps

The proposed legislative amendments have already entered the official consultation and endorsement process. After approval by the Government, the documents will be sent to Parliament for adoption. In parallel, the methodology for voluntary amalgamation will also be amended to ensure a smooth and predictable process for all interested localities.