Ion Ceban meets former Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo in London to discuss Moldova reforms

Ion Ceban, mayor of Chișinău, held a meeting in London with Anne Hidalgo — former mayor of Paris and current ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. The two officials talked about development projects in Chișinău, citing Paris' infrastructure experience from the Olympic Games, and examined the broader political reforms underway in the Republic of Moldova.

Ceban criticised recent local‑government reforms he says are imposed on mayors under pressure, calling for a referendum on any structural changes and supporting constitutional amendments to eliminate the existing raion system. He also voiced concerns about the government's fiscal reform, warning it could hurt the economy, living standards, migration trends and funding for local administrations. The mayor said he will continue to raise these issues with senior officials whenever possible.