Former municipal councilor Oleg Cernei said that after all the arrests made at the City Hall, including of Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca, the inhabitants of Chisinau are very disappointed. Given the evidence existing against the mayor, this should better resign and the Central Election Commission (CEC) will announce new elections if the seat is vacated. If elections are held, a candidate of the right has chances to win as society does not want the City Hall to be taken over by Socialists.
In a news conference at IPN, Oleg Cernei said that starting with 8am on May 26, the Chisinau City Hall has no legal entity with the right to sign documents and put the municipality’s stamp. Under the law, if the mayor general is suspended from post, the duties are taken over by a deputy mayor. If the deputy mayor is unable to work, the duties are taken over by the secretary of the Chisinau Municipal Council. In the current situation, there is no deputy mayor who could take over. The Council’s secretary was also detained.
The ex-councilor said that even if the mayor and deputy mayor were arrested, the National Anticorruption Center didn’t ask that these should be suspended. The Municipal Council could meet to choose a person who will hold the post of mayor on an interim basis if there is a decision to suspend Chirtoaca. It would be ideal for the accusations made against the mayor not to come true so that this could return to work next Monday. However, if there is evidence, the mayor should tender his resignation. If so, the CEC will declare the post vacant and will announce new elections.
Oleg Cernei considers that if new mayoral elections are held, a powerful candidate of the right could win these and the city will be able to continue on its path of European integration and the Socialists will be prevented from taking over.
The ex-councilor also said there are rumors that Dorin Chirtoaca transmitted a message to the Liberal Party, of which he forms part, and informed that he is ready to resign. If Chirtoaca vacates the seat, the referendum initiated by the Socialists will be annulled and the CEC will declare the post of mayor vacant and will announce new elections. Oleg Cernei considers more arrests will yet follow.
