Reform of local self-governance: opportunities and limitations

Modern Russia is on the brink of a new municipal reform, against the backdrop of the proposed Federal Law “On General Principles of Local Self-Government Organization in a Unified System of Public Authority” (Draft Law No. 40361-8), which aims to replace the existing Federal Law No. 131 of October 6, 2003, “On General Principles of Local Self-Government Organization in the Russian Federation”. At the same time, this initiative was perceived quite ambiguously by the expert community. The most significant contention arises from the transition to a one-tier system of local self-governance, particularly due to the insufficient understanding of the organizational mechanisms necessary for its implementation. Consequently, the reforms of local self-governance, which involve the transformation of municipal districts into municipal entities, necessitate greater clarity, transparency, and justification of the effectiveness of this transformation. It is imperative to arrange a unified system of public authority in such a manner that decisions made within its framework are judicious, well-founded, and do not raise doubts regarding their potential impact. The reform of local self-governance should be conducted based on a comprehensive investigation of all possible alternatives and the search for balanced solutions. The problems and prospects associated with this reform merit further attention and analysis, as they hold significant implications for the governance landscape in Russia.