Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Vasile Tofan, presents the draft administrative-territorial reform | The 32 districts are to be reorganized into three regions – North, Centre and South

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Vasile Tofan, has presented the Government’s vision for a major administrative-territorial reform, under which the country’s current 32 districts would be reorganized into three regions: North, Centre and South.

The proposal is aimed at restructuring the second level of local public administration, redistributing responsibilities and resources, and reducing administrative costs and bureaucracy.

Under the concept presented by the Government, the North Region would include 11 districts and have its administrative centre in Bălți. The Centre Region would comprise 13 districts, with its administrative centre in Chișinău, while the South Region would include seven districts and have its administrative centre in Cahul.

The reform would not affect the status of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, while the municipalities of Chișinău and Bălți would retain their current status. Taraclia is also expected to be reorganized as a second-level municipality.

A new role for the regional level

According to Prime Minister Vasile Tofan, the three proposed regional administrations would not simply replace the existing district councils. Their role would be focused primarily on strategic development, regional policies and large-scale projects.

“We do not want to replace 32 districts with three giant regions. Their role will be different. They should focus on strategy, regional development and major projects. The region will not run the mayor’s office, but it will help the mayor’s office do things it cannot do on its own,” the Prime Minister explained.

The approach would therefore change the role of the intermediate level of public administration, with a stronger focus on projects that require coordination and resources beyond the capacity of individual local authorities.

Redistribution of responsibilities

The responsibilities currently exercised by district-level authorities would be redistributed under the proposed reform.

Some powers would be transferred to local authorities, while others would be taken over by the central administration. The Government says the objective is to simplify the administrative structure and eliminate overlapping responsibilities.

“We want fewer regions, fewer responsibilities at the second level, fewer civil servants and less bureaucracy,” Tofan said.

The Prime Minister also emphasized that reducing the administrative apparatus should not automatically mean mass dismissals.

“This does not mean cutting people. We want a state with smaller, but stronger and more productive teams,” he stated.

Public services to remain accessible locally

Another component of the reform concerns the organization of public services. According to the Prime Minister, the restructuring is not intended to withdraw public services from local communities.

“We are not moving the services, but simplifying the administration. Some will move to local authorities, while others will be administered centrally,” Tofan said.

The proposed model would therefore seek to change the way services are administered and financed rather than simply concentrate them in the new regional centres.

Nearly 9 billion lei in district budgets

The reform also has a significant financial dimension.

According to the figures presented by Vasile Tofan, district budgets amounted to approximately 9 billion lei in 2025, with around 77% of these funds allocated to education.

The Government maintains that these resources would not disappear as a result of the administrative restructuring. Instead, they would be redistributed according to the new division of responsibilities between local, regional and central authorities.

At the same time, the Government expects administrative savings from the restructuring of the second level of public administration.

“Obviously, this money does not disappear. But we will also have administrative savings at the second level,” the Prime Minister said.

Greater responsibilities for local authorities

The concept presented by the Government places local authorities at the centre of the proposed new administrative architecture.

More responsibilities and resources would be transferred to municipalities and local administrations, while the regional level would focus on strategic development, coordination between localities and large-scale projects.

For the economy, the impact of the reform will depend largely on how budgets, responsibilities and human resources are redistributed, as well as on the capacity of local and regional authorities to develop and implement investment projects.

The Government’s stated objective is to create a leaner administrative system, reduce institutional overlaps and direct more resources and responsibilities towards local administrations and development projects.