The Moldovan Parliament has once again demonstrated that “it is far from realities and needs of local communities”, believes Viorel Furdui, Executive Director of the Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (CALM).

 

He stated at a news conference at Infotag that on December 29 the Parliament refused to include into agenda the draft law on decentralization and local autonomy, through which local authorities had to get the right to tender inquiries to the Constitutional Court, to change the land use, receiving additional revenues to the local authorities’ budgets.

 

“This bill has been longed for by regional authorities for several years. This bill is extremely important for society, since its acceptance would increase the role of local authorities in attracting investment for economic development of territories. This bill guarantees access of local authorities to justice in case of violations of the principles of local self-government and aligning the legal framework of the Republic of Moldova in line with the European Charter of local self-government”, he noted.

 

According to Furdui, when he Moldovan Parliament refused to include the draft law in agenda, it once again missed the chance to demonstrate to local communities and their representatives that it knows their problems and is ready to participate in their resolution.

 

“We ask for organization of a special meeting of the Parliament to hear Prime Minister’s and Speaker’s reports on the situation in the field of local governance, decentralization and strategy implementation of Moldova’s commitments in the field of local democracy and decentralization. We ask for respect of legal framework in the field of local autonomy in the process of adopting new laws”, said CALM Director.

 

Cimislia mayor Gheorghe Railean drew attention to another problem – “slow democratization process in the country”.

 

“Central and local governments must get back to solving local problems and not focus only on bureaucratic problems solving”, said Raileanu.