The Chisinau councilors representing the European People’s Party of Moldova (PPEM), the Party of Socialists (PSRM) and the “Our Party” (PPPN) plan to dismiss the Mayor of Chisinau Dorin Chirtoaca on July 11. The announcement was made in the talk show “Politics” on TV 7 channel. The councilors accuse the mayor of defective management, promotion to posts based on nepotism and party criteria and appropriation of municipal funds, IPN reports.
PPEM councilor Ruslan Codreanu said that the signatures needed for initiating a referendum on Chirtoaca’s dismissal will be collected by July 11. “There are particular legislative barriers for initiating a referendum. We will try to dismiss Chirtoaca in the meeting of the Chisinau Municipal Council, but will also collect signatures in case we do not manage to secure the votes needed for dismissing the mayor,” he stated.
PSRM councilor Ion Ceban said all the Socialist councilors will vote for the mayor’s dismissal. PPPN councilor Ilan Casu also said that he will vote in favor of the dismissal.
Independent councilor Ion Stefanita advised Chirtoaca to tender his resignation of honor. “Mayor Chirtoaca is tired of this post. It would be a courageous step for him to tender his resignation of honor so that we do not have to hold a referendum,” he stated.
Under the legislation, the mayor of Chisinau can be dismissed by the votes of 34 councilors of the 51. The Chisinau Municipal Council consists of 19 Socialists, 17 Liberals, five councilors of the PPEM, three Communist councilors, three councilors of the PPPN, two Liberal-Democrats, one Democratic councilor and one independent councilor.
