The Congress of Local Authorities from Moldova (CALM) has sent an official appeal to President Maia Sandu, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu, Members of Parliament, Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, Prosecutor General Alexandru Machidon, and the Director of the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS), Alexandru Musteață. The document calls for the urgent intervention of state authorities to bring the administrative-territorial reform back within the legal framework, end the unlawful pressure exerted on local public authorities, and restore constructive dialogue with local communities, TRIBUNA reports.

In its appeal, CALM points out that the administrative-territorial reform is based on a concept that has not been enshrined in any legal or regulatory act, yet is being imposed as the foundation for implementing the reform.

“The July 31 deadline and the unprecedented pressure exerted by the State Chancellery and several Members of Parliament on mayors and locally elected officials to carry out the allegedly ‘voluntary’ amalgamation constitute a gross violation of the law and a serious abuse. This undermines the principles of local self-government and the rule of law and represents one of the key risks to the Republic of Moldova’s progress on its European path.

The recent statements made by some supporters of this model only confirm that the entire reform process concerning local public administration is taking place outside the legal framework, while reliance solely on a draft document that has neither been approved nor has any legal force is clear evidence of an abuse of the powers established by law,” the appeal states.