Moldovan Central Electoral Commission cancels registration of candidate for mayor of central Moldova commune

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has cancelled the registration of electoral contender Nicanor Ciochina, an independent candidate for the position of mayor of Bolduresti commune, central Nisporeni district.

According to CEC, the decision follows the examination of a complaint submitted to CEC by Sergiu Bulicanu, an independent candidate for the mayor position of Bolduresti commune, Nisporeni district, which contested Nicanor Ciochina's failure to suspend himself from office and his use of administrative resources on electoral purposes.

By the decision of the Bolduresti local council no. 4/11 of June 27, 2025, Nicanor Ciochina was authorized to exercise the interim position of mayor of Bolduresti commune until the elected mayor assumes office. In the context of organizing the repeated voting in the second round of local elections for the mayor position of Bolduresti commune, Nisporeni district, on July 20, as an independent candidate, he did not suspend himself from office, contrary to the provisions of Article 16 paragraph (3) letter e) of the Electoral Code no. 325/2022. Furthermore, as interim mayor, he continued to perform his official duties.

Upon examining the complaint, the CEC found that using administrative resources for promoting personal interests during the electoral period, contrary to electoral law’s provisions, explicitly prohibits this practice. This conduct not only violated the obligation to suspend from office, but also resulted in an evident conflict between public and personal interest, affecting the principles of fairness, impartiality and correctness that should govern the electoral process.

CEC will forward the decision to the Interior Ministry for examination whether the elements of administrative resources’ use are met and, if necessary, for the adoption of appropriate measures.

In the context, CEC ordered that the electoral bureaus of polling stations No. 23/11, 23/12, and 23/13 shall apply, no later than 18:00 on July 19, 2025, the stamp with the mention Withdrawn on all ballots in front of the electoral contender Ciochina Nicanor, as well as in the pre-printed minutes on the vote counting results. The electoral council of the Bolduresti commune electoral district No. 23/5 will apply the WITHDRAWN stamp next to the same electoral contender in the minutes regarding the centralization of voting results.