Ceban: Chisinau Will Demand a Referendum if the Municipality’s Boundaries Are Altered

The Chisinau authorities may call a local referendum should proposals to alter the municipality’s boundaries arise during the administrative-territorial reform. This was stated by Mayor Ion Ceban at a meeting of municipal services. The mayor noted that there is increasing public discussion about a possible revision of the municipality’s boundaries and the inclusion of new settlements through statutory amalgamation, reports rupor.md. “If this is confirmed in one form or another, we will propose organizing a local referendum so that the residents of Chisinau can express their views and make a decision,” Ceban emphasized. In his view, it is also necessary to consult with residents of the suburbs, and such steps must be based on public consensus rather than political interests. The mayor also intends to ask MPs from the Alternativa faction and representatives of the MAN party to initiate the process of organizing a plebiscite in parliament. In response, the Secretary-General of the Government, Alexei Buzu, explained that decisions on amalgamation are taken voluntarily and concern only first-level local administrations, to which Chisinau (as a second-level unit) does not belong. According to him, the right to merge lies exclusively with the communities themselves and their local elected representatives, and not with the mayor of the municipality. “It is unclear exactly what Ceban fears, but if he cannot contribute to the reform, I would urge him not to stand in the way,” concluded Buzu, adding that citizens would be the primary beneficiaries of the reform’s proper implementation.