The Balti Appeals Court nullified the November 3 mayoral runoffs in Călinești village of Fălești district, quashing the December 17, 2019 decision of the ordinary court by which the elections were validated.

The results of the elections in Călinești were challenged by the Action and Solitary Party’s candidate for mayor Eduard Curtescu, who invoked multiple electoral frauds committed in the runoffs by his opponent Svetlana Pădure, of the Democratic Party, who was declared winner.

Contacted by IPN, Ion Mazur, the lawyer for Eduard Curtescu, said that the first court on December 17 rejected his client’s challenge, upholding the decision that the results were correct. Eduard Curtescu appealed the decision to the Balti Appeals Court that quashed the decision of the first court on January 15, but didn’t pronounce on the legality of the elections and validation of the seat of mayor. Today the Balti Appeals Court invalidated the elections.

Svetlana Pădure disputed immediately the Balti Appeals Court’s ruling in the Supreme Court of Justice. She has told IPN that this is a unique case in Moldova. The invoked reasons weren’t substantiated and were based on statements of witnesses affiliated to her opponent.

A final decision is to be taken in ten days.