Foreign Policy Newsletter 04/242, April 2026: Modernization or centralization? The dilemmas of the local public administration reform

The April edition of the FES/APE Foreign Policy Bulletin is dedicated to the reform of local public administration in the Republic of Moldova, analyzed through the lens of its necessity, implementation challenges, and the context of European integration. The reform is considered inevitable both by Alexei Buzu, in the context of European integration and administrative fragmentation, and by MAN deputy Olga Ursu and public administration expert Sergiu Palihovici. However, Alexei Buzu argues that the solution lies in the voluntary consolidation of mayoralties, digitalization, and strengthening administrative capacity to provide more efficient services and reduce inequalities between communities. Meanwhile, Olga Ursu warns that without real financial decentralization and public participation, the reform risks becoming merely a political resizing. Last but not least, Sergiu Palihovici emphasizes the importance of legitimacy and social cohesion for the success of the process. In the editorial of the edition, journalist Mădălin Necșuțu highlights that the reform can contribute to the modernization of the state only if it maintains closeness to the citizen; otherwise, it risks being perceived as a change in form rather than substance.

Read the full version of the bulletin HERE.