The Chisinau City Council (CMC) today rejected both candidates for the office of CMC chairman. Liberal Party’s leader Mihai Ghimpu was supported by 22 out of 47 councillors attending, while the leader of the Christian-Democrat faction, Alexandru Corduneanu got only 4 votes. Under the legislation in operation, the CMC chairman can be elected by a majority vote, that is by 50 percent plus 1 of the total elected councillors. The candidacy of Mihai Ghimpu was backed by his party colleagues, the councillors of the Moldova Noastra Alliance, the freshly formed Democrat-Liberal faction, and National-Liberal Mihai Severovan. Nays came from the Communists and the councillor representing the Social Political Movement “Ravnopravie”, Valeri Climenco. The councillors representing the Christian-Democrat People’s Party, the Humanist Party, and the Social-Democrats led by Eduard Musuc have abstained. Alexandru Corduneanu gained 2 votes from his party colleagues and 2 from the Humanists. 19 councillors from different factions voted against and 24, including Communists, abstained.