The PSD has decided to set up a party working group to propose a draft law for Romania’s administrative-territorial reform, party spokesman Lucian Romașcanu announced on Monday.
The topic of administrative reorganization is not new and has been discussed periodically, but nothing has happened. In May 2023, 42 years after Romania’s last territorial reorganization, ex-USR deputy Tudor-Vlad Benga submitted to Parliament a project that would have reduced the number of counties to 12 and merged some localities, but the initiative was rejected by both Houses of Parliament.
The Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu says that the legal framework will be created for Romania to be reorganized administratively and territorially as quickly as possible. PSD spokesperson said that the draft law would have to be drafted by this working group “probably in the next six months”, after which it would be discussed in the coalition and then passed through Parliament.
“On Monday, a meeting of the National Political Council was held, in which governmental, legislative, as well as political and organizational issues were discussed. Regarding the governmental and legislative side, the priority for the immediate period was the establishment of a PSD working group, which would propose a draft law for the administrative-territorial reform of Romania, a promise that the political class made for a very long time and that we have not yet fulfilled,” announced Lucian Romaşcanu, after the party leadership meeting.
Romaşcanu argued that “this will support the reform, so that we can make local administrations more efficient and that there will naturally be, as an immediate consequence, a reduction in the administration expenses of local authorities, but also an efficiency increase in support of people through this reform.” The social democrat mentioned that “there is a need to consolidate local communities, there is a need to consolidate public services and state services in those communities.”
“There are many things that come into play here, including education, teaching, health, access to health and infrastructure and so on. There is no principle of dissolution, there is the principle of merger, probably this will also be discussed,” explained Romaşcanu.
Marcel Ciolacu, PSD president: “We have formed a committee. The President of the Chamber of Deputies with the future president of the UCJ, the future president of the AMR, with two representatives from each county council, with the mayors of the county capitals, from the communes, with two members from the committees in Parliament.”
Ilie Bolojan, interim president of the PNL: “Any project that makes the administration in Romania more efficient, including local public administration, that brings decisions closer to citizens, for decentralization, by transferring powers from ministries to decentralized services, will be supported by the PNL. This is not about the paternity of solutions, this is about working, making some correct decisions that will really have a good result, and implementing them.”
In the last 14 years, several legislative projects have been submitted for the administrative-territorial reorganization of the country, but none have received the endorsement of Parliament. Attila Cseke, Minister of Development: “Indeed, the last 3 reorganizations were a failure. And if we look at why they were a failure, then I think we need to understand the importance of these administrative positions that I was telling you about. Without asking Romanian citizens and without asking the inhabitants of the respective localities, it is difficult to do the administrative-territorial organization”.
The general mayor of the capital, Nicușor Dan, says that an administrative-territorial reform is necessary, but that it must be preceded by thorough studies. In his opinion, such a reorganization cannot take place before 2028. The comments come after the PSD announced on Monday the establishment of a party working group to propose a draft law for Romania’s administrative-territorial reform. Nicușor Dan said on B1 TV that it is important to start working on this project early, with studies and adequate planning.
The most recent project of this kind was submitted in October by those from USR. The document referred to the reduction of the number of counties and localities, but also to the reorganization of Bucharest. The initiators called for a state with fewer institutions and rational public spending.
The idea of administrative reorganization is not new, as in 2011 former president Traian Băsescu argued that the 41 counties should be abolished and Romania should be divided into 8 large regions. From USL, PSD, to Dacian Cioloș or PNL parliamentarians have referred to the need for territorial reorganization.
At last this madness with Buc – Ilfov will end.