The Central Election Commission (CEC) requested the Bălți Court to annul the registration of electoral contender Marina Tauber, who was put forward for the mayoralty of Bălți by Șor Party. The Commission determined that the candidate used undeclared financial and nonfinancial resources of at least 34,260 lei in the snap mayoral elections in the municipality of Bălți, exceeding the cap set by CEC by at least 9,514 lei, IPN reports.

According to the rapporteur, CEC vice president Pavel Postica, CEC received complaints from former PPPDA MP Arina Spătaru; independent candidate for the mayoralty of Bălți Nicolai Grigorishin and the Bălți Police Inspectorate, which said that the financial reports of Șor Party submitted to the Commission do not contain data concerning the provision of catering services by a business entity for volunteers who campaigned for Marina Tauber. The undeclared sum amounts to 152,000 lei. Nicolai Grigorishin said he has doubts about the real cost of the parry’s electoral advertisements on social networking sites and informed about the involvement of foreign persons in the electoral campaign of Marina Tauber.

For his part, candidate for mayor of Bălți Marina Tauber said the complaints filed to CEC are not based on evidence and should be rejected. As regards the business entity, CEC already examined this issue in a meeting. The advertising online and on TV was covered with money from the electable fund and the Bălți Police Inspectorate didn’t present any proofs showing that a representative of the party had a financial relationship with the business entity that provided catering series.

Marina Tauber noted the accusations made against her and her party are aberrant. She accused the CEC vice president Pavel Postica of intimidating the CEC members into making them vote for her exclusion from the electoral race. Asked what evidence can be provided, a representative of Marina Tauber said they will make use of this right when the time is opportune.

While CEC was examining the subject concerning the incomes and costs of Șor Party’s candidate for mayor of Bălți, a group of people demonstrated in support of Marina Tauber outside the institution, chanting “Victory, victory!” and “Marina is our mayor!”.

In the first round of the snap mayoral elections in the municipality of Bălți, Marina Tauber gained 47.93% of the poll, being followed by independent candidate Nicolai Grigorishin with 20.93% of the vote. The two will contend in the runoff vote on December 5.