The candidate for mayor of Chisinau of the Green Ecologist Party (PVE) Victor Stratila, who is the party’s vice president, said the campaign that preceded the May 20 mayoral elections wasn’t at all easy. The electoral fund to which money could be transferred for electoral activities wasn’t opened by the bank to which they filed an application, while the media outlets were politically biased.

In a news conference at IPN on May 23, Victor Stratila thanked those who cast their ballots on May 20, especially those who voted for him.  He noted that as the electoral fund wasn’t opened by the requested bank, they could not produce electoral advertisements for radio and TV. The media outlets, even if they said they will organize debates with all the contenders, ultimately showed political bias in favor of particular election runners, disfavoring the others.

The PVE candidate called on his supporters to take part in the June 3 runoffs in a larger number and to vote for the pro-European candidate. He also called upon the future major of Chisinau to start work by taking measures to root out corruption from the City Hall or the situation will remain unchanged.

PVE vice president Vasile Fotescu said the discussions held during the election campaign didn’t center on the real problems of the citizens. The young people became involved to a small extent, leaving the impression that they don’t care. For the upcoming parliamentary elections, the electoral debate strategy should be changed, the approach should be more equidistant and the debates should focus on citizens’ problems.

Green Ecologist Party president Anatolie Prohnitski said the PVE in the election campaign centered on essential things, while other election runners made use of contrived films, wiretaps and unfounded accusations.

In the first round of the early mayoral elections held in Chisinau municipality on May 20, the PVE candidate Victor Stratila polled 0.19% of the vote.