Procedural missteps stall Floreni-Singera merger efforts
The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has dealt a blow to the proposed merger of the village of Floreni (Anenii Noi district) with the town of Singera (Chisinau municipality) by rejecting the registration of an initiative group seeking a local referendum on the matter.
The group's application, filed on December 18, 2023, contained procedural irregularities that ultimately led to its rejection.
Upon close examination, the CEC identified deficiencies in the group's adherence to legal requirements outlined in the Electoral Code. Specifically, the group failed to properly notify the local public administration authority and did not conduct the mandatory citizen meeting necessary for establishing the initiative group. These procedural shortcomings rendered the application invalid and ultimately doomed the group's initial attempt to bring the merger proposal to a public vote.
This development follows the July 2023 passage of a Moldovan law facilitating voluntary local amalgamations. The law enables localities to merge following affirmative decisions by their respective local councils, provided they meet established criteria such as geographic proximity and a minimum population of 3,000.
The setback faced by the Floreni-Singera merger initiative underscores the crucial importance of meticulous adherence to procedural guidelines when pursuing local amalgamation endeavors. Whether future attempts to merge these two communities will successfully navigate the legal landscape remains to be seen.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
