Municipal councilors have differing opinions about the necessity of an acting mayor general to be named by the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) following the resignation of Dorin Chirtoaca.

Requested by IPN to state his opinion, Vitalie Mucan, secretary of the Socialist group on the CMC, said the group will have a meeting to discuss the issue and to consult jurists.

According to Veaceslav Bulat, councilor of the Electoral Bloc “European People’s Platform of Moldova – Iurie Leanca”, the law on the local public administration says that a new situation occurs at the level of the municipality’s administration when the mayor resigns and the mandate of current acting mayor Silvia Radu should be probably confirmed by the CMC. On the other hand, the law on the status of Chisinau municipality does not stipulate such a procedure.

“The law on the status of Chisinau municipality is a special law. The law on the local public administration should have preeminence. In such a case, the one who issued these two orders should interpret the situation. Parliament should say which of the laws is more important. The Local Office of the State Chancellery should also give a verdict as to what should be done. Such a request can be made to the CMC by the Council’s groups,” stated Veaceslav Bulat.

Communist councilor Vasili Chirtoca said the current acting mayor Silvia Radu can serve until the early mayoral elections, but he expects to also see the opinion of the party’s jurists. “Deputy mayor Nistor Grozavu fulfilled the duties of mayor, but he delegated these duties to Silvia Radu and everything was done in accordance with the law,” stated Vasili Chirtoca.

“Our Party” councilor Ilian Casu reminded that Silvia Radu manages the City Hall based on an order signed by Nistor Grozavu, who, for his part, was named to post on an interim basis, until a final court judgment is passed or until the term in office of Dorin Chirtoaca ends. With the resignation of Dorin Chirtoaca, Silvia Radu’s term also ended and her mayoralty is now illegal.

“Therefore, Nistor Grozavu should make another order as what Silvia Radu signs now and her decisions are illegal given that Dorin Chirtoaca officially tendered his resignation and his term ended, or the Municipal Council should convene and choose an acting mayor who would serve until the elections from among the councilors or from outside,” stated Ilian Casu.

According to Adrian Culai, councilor of the Liberal Democratic Party, in accordance with the law on the status of Chisinau municipality, the deputy mayors name the acting mayor, while the Municipal Council has no power in this regard. The municipality now has three deputy mayors. If two of them refuse to hold mayoralty on an interim basis, the third can hold office without any problem.

Democratic councilor Liviu Oboroc said the jurists of competent institutions should propose a solution to the created situation and the CMC should comply. “The City Hall has a Law Division. There is also the Central Election Commission. Discussions on the issue were already initiated within the CMC. The CMC should request the competent institutions to shed light,” he noted.

In a TV program in the evening of February 19, deputy chairman of the Liberal Party Valeriu Munteanu said that in the current situation, given that Dorin Chirtoaca vacated the seat of mayor, the Chisinau Municipal Council should come together and name an acting mayor for the period until the early mayoral elections. If Nistor Grozavu signs one more order to name the acting mayor, this will be as illegal as the one signed last November.