Who is opposing local autonomy?

Decentralization and local autonomy are basic principles for an efficient local government. The European Charter of Local Self-Government, ratified by Moldova in 1997, provides that local authorities are part of the foundation of any democratic regime. Through local government, citizens have the most direct means to participate to public affairs.

In post-communist countries, the will of political leaders, public support and good human resources have been decisive factors in decentralization reforms. Decentralization is the result of conscious decisions and negotiated compromises. It involves legislative and political changes. Juridical and institutional changes are an intrinsic part of social evolution and are directly influenced by various actors’ behavior. 

Short glorious history     

Attempts to reform local government have occurred right after the creation of the state of the Republic of Moldova. Unfortunately, the numerous legislative changes made at the beginning of transition have not ensured a genuine local autonomy. Moreover, tendencies to centralize and subordinate local administration to national government have increased. The financial system - similar to a matrioska doll – in which the budgets of mayoralties depend on transfers from rayons and the rayon budgets depend on transfers from the national government, is still in effect. In 1994, an influential political actor has boycotted local elections to express their protest against this situation. The mayor of Chisinau was then appointed by presidential decree, declared unconstitutional… after five years.   

In 1999, a territorial-administrative reform has been made. The new system began to function only in 2001, the year when the communist party came to power. In 2003, at the moment of general local elections the red government has reintroduced the rayon system and, contrarily to legislation, has created approximately two hundred more mayoralties. The experts of civil society have estimated that this antireform has cost almost 1 billion lei (!). At the end of 2006, after having declared that they were pro-European, the communists have approved important laws, including the law on administrative decentralization. But the mechanism of funding applied for mayoralties has not changed and these laws remained only on paper.

Read here the entire article by Dr. Mihai Roscovan.