RIGA, June 16 (Xinhua) -- The local governments of 46 municipalities across Latvia have sent President Egils Levits a petition asking to halt a highly controversial municipal reform, which has already been greenlighted by the central government and parliament, the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments said Tuesday.
Opponents argue that the reform is poorly planned. The local authorities accuse the Regional Development Ministry of a failure to properly consult local governments and residents about their needs and expectations in the context of the reform.
Most importantly, the petitioners say, the reform plan does not answer the main question - how will the new map of municipalities ensure a better development of Latvia and its territories?
The local governments are therefore calling on the president not to sign the reform bill into law and to send it back to lawmakers for revision. The petition has been joined by more than a third of Latvia's 119 local governments.
As a result of the reform, which the parliament passed in the final reading on June 10, the number of municipalities in the Baltic country will be reduced from 119 to 42, primarily by merging smaller administrative territories to form larger and economically stronger municipalities.
In support of the reform, Regional Development Minister Juris Puce said that the creation of larger municipalities is necessary because it is much harder for small and fragmented municipalities to attract significant investment and that the goal is to ensure equal opportunities for all people in Latvia regardless of their municipality of residence.
For the reform bill to take effect, it has to be promulgated by the president. Enditem
