Water, roads and public services: why authorities insist on local reform

President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu says that the reform of local public administration is necessary for the development of localities and the improvement of public services, even if the process is difficult and unpopular.

The statements were made at a TV show, where the head of state spoke about the need to consolidate town halls and to increase the efficiency of local administration.

“This reform is very late,” Maia Sandu said, noting that the current administrative structure, based on numerous small town halls, limits the capacity of localities to attract funding and to implement development projects.

According to the president, larger town halls can manage more efficiently services such as waste management, water supply and sewerage, public transport or the digitalization of administrative services.

“In a small town hall it is very difficult to solve the problem of waste management,” the head of state said, also invoking the advantages of economies of scale in the case of consolidated administrations.

Maia Sandu said that approximately 600 town halls are already discussing the possibility of voluntary amalgamation and administrative consolidation.

“I know it is not a simple effort,” the president said, specifying that the process must remain voluntary and adapted to the specific characteristics of each region.

The head of state rejected fears that the reform would lead to the disappearance of local identity or village traditions.

“The name of the village remains. It is not about eliminating identity,” Maia Sandu said, adding that local traditions and festivals will continue to be promoted.

According to the president, the goal of the reform is to reduce administrative costs and increase the quality of public services offered to citizens.

“We will have fewer civil servants, but better trained, with more resources,” the head of state said.

During the program, Maia Sandu also commented on the process of centralizing certain public services, including in the fields of education and social assistance. She argued that the measures are necessary to ensure equal quality standards in all districts of the country.

“Our responsibility is the same towards all children in this country,” the president of the Republic of Moldova declared, referring to reforms in the education system.

More than 400 mayors from localities that have initiated the process of voluntary amalgamation, district presidents, members of professional organizations and external partners participated on Friday in the event “Strong Town Halls – Developed Localities”, held in the Great National Assembly Square (PMAN). The interim Prime Minister of Romania, Ilie Bolojan will attend the event.

So far, 681 decisions have been approved to initiate the amalgamation process, targeting 767 town halls and covering about 86% of all town halls in the Republic of Moldova.