The evolution of the administrative-territorial organization in the Republic of Moldova

05 April 2024 Author: Igor BOȚAN
The evolution of the administrative-territorial organization in the Republic of Moldova

The Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT has developed an analytical note on "The Evolution of Administrative Organization in the Republic of Moldova." Its author, Igor Boțan, takes us on a journey through history from the period of Dimitrie Cantemir to the present day.

This paper reveals the evolutionary path of territories in the Republic of Moldova. It highlights the territorial-administrative changes and transformations from "oblasts" with autonomous status to gubernias with 8 uyezds within the Tsarist Russia framework, and the reorganization into counties and regions after the 1918 union act within Royal Romania. The administrative-territorial evolution of the Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic with its approximately 45-year history is not overlooked, showcasing a series of administrative reforms with a fluctuating number of districts, ranging from 60 to 18, reaching 40 at the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

It is easy to assume that the contemporary history period of the Republic of Moldova occupies the lion's share in this work. Here, we find information about how the Transnistrian Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed, the formation of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, the administrative-territorial reform of the Republic of Moldova and the transition to counties in '98, the formation of the Taraclia county on ethnic criteria, and how in less than a year the Communist Party managed to carry out a counter-reform and bring back the districts.

At the same time, all efforts to reform local public administration undertaken by governments from 2009 to the present are highlighted. In summary, this paper offers a historical retrospective on the subject of administrative organization, emphasizing once again the importance of understanding the past in making present decisions.

The analytical note is produced within the project "Strengthening the capacities of local public authorities and supporting dialogue in the public administration reform process." The project is implemented by the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova. The content of the analytical note and visibility materials belongs to the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funder.