Igor VOLNITCHI recalled that, yesterday, within a press conference, the representatives of parliamentary opposition made a number of serious allegations on this Strategy and its further actions.

"The public opinion was deliberately misled; the opposition alleged that the strategy provides for the return to counties, closure of hundreds of mayoralties, hospitals and other social institutions. These speculations are nothing but absurdities meant to raise artificial tension in society", the spokesman for Prime Minister said.

Igor VOLNITCHI said that the strategy does not tell a word about counties, closure of mayoralties or other measures of this kind.

"On the contrary, the goal of the strategy is to provide more autonomy to the regions, build new local development opportunities, provide more freedom of action to local authorities and bring public services closer to the citizens", Igor VOLNITCHI said.

He noted that a priority of the Government is decentralization and local autonomy, and the National Decentralization Strategy is meant to ensure the practical implementation of this priority.

Igor VOLNITCHI said that the Parity Commission on decentralization and the working groups on specific areas of activity had been earlier set up. "I make this important specification in the context of the yesterday statements, alleging that the reform was not sufficiently consulted with the civil society and other stakeholders. The strategy was published, brought to the public's knowledge, and each significant step to this end is consulted with those targeted by this reform", he said.

The spokesman for the Prime Minister emphasized that the real situation in the local public administration area has been analyzed and assessed so far. The goals for each activity field have been also established, after which the necessary actions are to be identified that would help achieve the expected results.

"Like this, to implement the strategy gradual actions are proposed, development of the sectoral roadmaps for specific areas liable to decentralization, by ensuring a genuine local autonomy: social protection, health, education, public order, public transport, infrastructure, local economic development, youth and sports, culture, environment, etc. In a word, we will do our utmost to bring the public services closer to the citizens, in order to have really developed regions", Igor VOLNITCHI said.

With reference to the allegations of the opposition on a possible return to counties, he said that it is not within the Government's remit to do this via strategies. VOLNITCHI underlined that the administrative and territorial organization of the Republic of Moldova is provided for by the Law with same name, and only the Parliament may take a final decision on the amendment of this law.

"The reform initiated by the Government in this field is of major importance and responsibility. This is one of the basic reforms that are to ensure a better development of the Republic of Moldova in the long run. From this viewpoint, we come out with an appeal to political parties to refrain from statements that may affect the smooth implementation of the reform, especially now when we are in full swing of the election campaign. This document is too important for the future of Moldova, therefore, its use in the election campaign, especially for misinformation purposes, is unacceptable and reprehensible", Igor VOLNITCHI said.