A new mayor was elected in Sangera town of Chisinau municipality in the December 3 runoff. This is the Democratic Party’s candidate Valeriu Poiata, IPN reports.

According to the preliminary results published by the Central Election Commission, Valeriu Poiata polled 1 937 votes (53.76%). His opponent Sergiu Branzila, of the Party of Socialists, won 1 666 votes (46.24%).

New mayoral elections were held in Sangera following the death of Mihai Lari, who was chosen mayor on the Liberal ticket in 2015. The 55-year-old mayor was found dead with a gun wound in his home at the end of this July. The police said Mihai Lari shot himself with a gun he held legally. A criminal case was started over instigation to commit suicide.

On December 3, Berlinti commune of Briceni district also held runoff mayoral elections. These were won by Viorica Oleinic, of the Democratic Party, with 510 votes (51.41%). Her opponent Iurii Beliciuc, who represented the Party of Socialists, won 482 votes (48.59%).  

In Lapusna village of Hancesti district, the mayoral elections were rerun because the November 19 elections were not validated owing to the low voter turnout. The only candidate Ion Bubuioc, of the Democratic Party, emerged victorious with 1 131 votes.