The mayor of Cavnic threatens to call a referendum on Maramureș independence if the administrative reform is adopted

Cavnic Mayor Vladimir Petruț threatened on Wednesday evening that a referendum on independence could be held in Maramureș if the administrative-territorial reform is adopted. He made the statement during an appearance on Antena 3 CNN, amid debates over the reorganization of local administration and possible mergers.

The mayor criticized the proposal, claiming that it would violate constitutional principles and fail to take into account differences between localities. Petruț said that Cavnic City Hall spends approximately 9% of the budget provided by the state, while the remaining funds are managed by other institutions, such as hospitals and schools. He argued that the city can manage itself and should not be merged with localities that, in his view, do not have comparable infrastructure and services.

The mayor invoked the history and traditions of the Land of Maramureș, stating that, if the reform is implemented, the region could return to a status separate from Romania. He also rejected the idea of a possible absorption of Maramureș County by Cluj, saying that, in his view, there are not sufficient historical ties between the two areas.

Vladimir Petruț also said that people from Maramureș could take to the streets to challenge the reorganization. The statements represent the mayor’s position in the dispute over the administrative-territorial reform.