Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova calls for halt to administrative reform

The Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM) has called for a halt to the current process of ‘normative amalgamation’ until the Parliament adopts a specific organic law. CALM Executive Director Viorel Furdui stated that the term ‘normative amalgamation’ does not exist in national legislation and that the current procedures lack a clear legal framework.

Furdui criticized the central authorities for rushing the reform, noting that the 2023–2030 public administration reform strategy intended for the voluntary stage to last until 2026. However, he claims the normative stage began prematurely in August. The organization also raised concerns regarding the quality of public consultations, alleging they are being conducted without involving local administrations and are being used to formalize decisions rather than seek genuine public opinion.

CALM is requesting the cancellation of minutes drawn up from these consultations and is calling for the unblocking of local referendums. They argue that the decision to abolish a locality or change an administrative center must be made by Parliament following proper citizen consultation.