Mayors deplore lack of local autonomy
The National League of Mayors’ Associations of Moldova (LNAMP) complain about the fact that the autonomy of local authorities is completely disrespected in our country, and that is why communities are unable to make steady progresses.
Iurie Tap, LNAPM vice-president and also mayor of Floresti town, stated Wednesday at a news conference that the mayors, as well as local councils, are unable to defend the interests of the communities they represent and cannot deal with the existing problems because they lack the levers needed to respond promptly.
“A country may become prosperous and wealthy only if its communities are prosperous and wealthy. But communities cannot prosper as long as the accents are misplaced”, Tap stated.
He believes that to effect change in our country, the central authorities should be responsive to cooperation; there must be created joint task forces involving central and local authorities and adjust the legal framework to the needs of the local administration.
Vasile Asimionesei, mayor of Balasinesti village in Briceni district, said that the biggest problems are related to the lack of financial autonomy and constraints in local decision-making.
Mayor Grigore Melnic of Drochia accused the current Communist government of dividing the mayors into two camps, into ‘ours and yours’, as it happened to the trade union organisations, the writers’ community, etc.
At the conference, the mayors representing LNAMP stated that they are open to cooperation with the central government in order to resolve the existing problems.