Although it was banned at last autumn’s local elections, the Chance Party will be able to contend in the new and partial local elections set to take place on May 19 in some of the localities of the country. The party is on the list of political parties entitled to compete in these elections, which was published by the Central Election Commission, IPN reports.

In total, 63 parties, including the Chance Party, will be able to contend in the new and partial local elections set for May 19.

In the local elections of last autumn, the Commission for Emergency Situations decided to exclude all the registered electoral contestants representing the Chance Party. At that time, Prime Minister Dorin Recean said the decision was taken a result of the analysis of law enforcement institutions’ reports on the identified activities aimed at influencing electoral processes in the country in order to promote the interests of the Russian Federation through the agency of an organized criminal group led by Ilan Shor through the Chance Party.

Contacted by IPN for details, the head of the CEC’s Communication, Public Relations and Media Department Rodica Sîrbu said that the Commission for Emergency Situations’ decision on the exclusion of the candidates of the Chance Party referred to the local elections of the autumn of 2023, not yet to the subsequent elections.

On May 19, 2024, new elections will be held to choose new local councils in Cairaclia village of Taraclia district and Chioselia Rusă and Cotovscoe villages of ATU Gagauzia and to elect the mayor in Tîrnova village of Dondușeni district, Bucovăț city of Strășeni district, Sagaidac village of Cimișlia district and Hănăsenii Noi commune of Leova district. Partial or by-elections will take place in Cealîc commune of Taraclia district to choose the local council and in Chioselia Rusă and Cotovscoe of ATU Gagauzia to elect the mayor.

According to data of the Public Services Agency, 81 political parties are registered in Moldova.