The Party of Socialists (PSRM) fielded Ion Ceban, the chairman of the Socialist group on the Chisinau Municipal Council, as the party’s candidate for the new mayoral elections that will take place in the capital city on May 20. The decision was taken in the March 18 meeting of the party’s national staff. The Socialists’ candidate for Balti municipality hasn’t been yet designated, IPN reports.
The meeting involved President Igor Dodon. After the meeting, he told the press that the PSRM is a pro-President party and, when the party is examining important issues, he takes part if he is invited. According to him, four candidates were examined for the post of mayor, but Ion Ceban was voted unanimously. Three years ago, Ceban renounced the seat of MP in order to deal with the problems of the capital city. He is a well-trained person who knows the real problems faced in Chisinau and can propose viable solutions to these.
As regards the candidate for the new mayoral elections in Balti municipality, Igor Dodon said no decision has been yet taken, but there were discussed potential candidates, including the possible candidacy of Alexandru Usatyi, who served as deputy mayor of Balti for a long period of time.
The Socialist leader Zinaida Grecheanyi said the meeting of the National Council was convoked because the stake in Chisinau is very big. But the Council’s decision is rather formal and is to be approved by the party’s Political Executive. For the new elections in Balti and in another five communities, the PSRM will yet field candidates.
Ion Ceban said the party’s decision is for him a big responsibility because things in Chisinau have stood badly for many years and should be improved. Together with the team from the Chisinau Municipal Council, he works a lot to change the state of affairs in the city. A strategic development plan is needed. At the same time, professionals chosen at contests should be named to administrative posts. The election campaign should focus on discussions concerning the problems experienced by the city, not on geopolitical subjects.
New mayoral elections in Chisinau municipality were set after Dorin Chirtoaca tendered his resignation from the post of mayor general a month ago. The Party “Platform Dignity and Truth” fielded the party’s leader Andrei Nastase for mayoralty, while the Liberal Party proposed Valeriu Munteanu. The Democratic Party said it will not have its own candidate in the local elections, but is ready to support a common candidate of the parties of the right or of the pro-European parties.
