Hundreds of mayors are heading to Bucharest to request changes to the public administration reform, while 1,300 communes are going on a warning strike.

Hundreds of mayors from Romania are heading to Bucharest to participate in a meeting of the Association of Communes, where they will request changes to the public administration reform proposed by the Government. Emil Drăghici, the president of the Association, stated that the government measures are unprecedented and "draconian," severely affecting local autonomy and contributing to the degradation of the Romanian village. Meanwhile, over 1,300 communes will begin a warning strike, marking a first in local administration protests. Drăghici emphasized that the mayors are upset and distressed by the current situation, also criticizing the sudden increase in local taxes and fees. He stated that these measures would have had different support if the mayors had been consulted beforehand. The project involves measures to reduce expenses through staff layoffs and tax increases. It is also aimed at increasing the revenues of the municipalities, thus expanding the tax base for buildings, land, and means of transport. Buildings constructed without authorization will be the most affected, with a doubling of taxes over the next 5 years. Reduced expenses will amount to 3.367 billion lei by 2026, and for the period 2027-2030, an annual saving of 5.2-5.7 billion lei is anticipated.