Moldova to reduce districts to fewer than eight under reform

Moldova is set to undergo a significant administrative reform that will drastically reduce the number of districts (raioane). According to Government Secretary General Alexei Buzu, the current 32 districts could be reduced to fewer than eight.

Under the proposed reform, district councils will see a reduction in their competencies and budgets. The primary actors for local development will shift toward individual town halls (primării). A major component of this change involves the “Restart in Education” reform, which will transfer education-related responsibilities and budgets—currently accounting for approximately 80% of district budgets—to the Ministry of Education and Research via Territorial Agencies.

Buzu noted that the reorganization is intended to redistribute rather than eliminate qualified personnel, moving staff into different administrative structures at central, regional, or local levels to meet evolving needs.