The head of the public association “Center of Initiatives and Public Authorities Monitoring” Ion Dron, who earlier announced his intention to run independently for the post of mayor of Chisinau, didn’t manage to collect the necessary number of signatures. In a news conference at IPN, he said he was invited by three parties to run for the mayoralty of Chisinau on behalf of them, but he refused and will thus run as an independent candidate for the post of municipal councilor, under No. 21 on the ballot.

Ion Dron stated that the number of 10,000 signatures needed for running independently in the mayoral elections in Chisinau is exaggerated. These 10,000 signatures are a ‘shield’ for the politicians, designed to prevent honest persons with differing views from entering the political arena.

Ion Dron said he managed to collect about 8,000 signatures during two weeks. He visited education and medical institutions, but not all the employees of these institutions wanted to sign in his favor for fear of not being fired by their superiors, who are party members.

He called on those who want to collect signatures in the street not to do it because the people are afraid to sign. He also called upon the people not to be afraid of the current political class and to punish it by giving their vote to honest people whom they know.

Ion Dron aims to become an independent councilor who will be known by all the people and who will assume responsibility for all the decisions he will take. He said he will put forward proposals to amend the legislation so that the number of signatures required from independent candidates is reduced.