CEC cancels Nicanor Ciochină's registration in Boldurești mayoral race
The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) canceled the registration of Nicanor Ciochină, who was running as an independent candidate for mayor of the Boldurești commune in Nisporeni district. This decision was approved during a meeting held on Friday, July 18, with six members of the Commission voting in favor.
The decision comes after the examination of an appeal filed with the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) by Sergiu Bulicanu, an independent candidate for mayor of Boldurești commune in the Nisporeni district. Bulicanu contested the non-suspension of Nicanor Ciochină from office and his use of administrative resources for electoral purposes.
According to the CEC, on June 27, 2025, the Boldurești Local Council empowered Ciochină to serve as the interim mayor. However, despite participating in the repeated voting scheduled for July 20, he failed to comply with the legal requirements regarding his suspension from office and continued to exercise his administrative duties.
After reviewing the appeal, the CEC concluded that Ciochină's actions violated electoral legislation and compromised the principles of fairness and integrity in the electoral process. The decision will be communicated to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which will determine whether administrative resources were improperly used for electoral purposes and will decide on any necessary actions.
Additionally, the CEC instructed the electoral offices at the polling stations in the commune to mark Nicanor Ciochină's name with the stamp "RETRAS" (withdrawn) on the ballots and in the related records by July 19, at 6:00 p.m.
During the meeting, Nicanor Ciochină characterized the decision as politically motivated. "The whole circus that I have witnessed since February... I regret to note that all of you are afraid of politics, except for the Supreme Court. This political mess will end up at the European Court of Human Rights. Thank goodness for such justice. Congratulations, Boldurești; they elected your mayor," Ciochină stated.
It is worth noting that the re-vote for the election of the mayor in Boldurești is scheduled for Sunday, July 20, following a series of controversial and disputed decisions. The CEC opted to organize new elections after it annulled the results of the second round of local elections held on June 1, determining that those results could no longer have legal effects on July 7.
Initially, the Ungheni Court annulled the validation of Ciochină's mayoral mandate on June 25. Subsequently, on July 4, the Nord Court of Appeal ordered the annulment of the second round and compelled the CEC to arrange for a re-run of the vote. Even though the Supreme Court of Justice overturned the appeal court’s decision, the CEC decided that the election must proceed on July 20, also reexamining the appeal filed by candidate Sergiu Bulicanu.
Ciochină is facing accusations of fatally hitting a boy from Boldurești with his car in February 2024 and fleeing the scene. He is alleged to have attempted to cover up the incident by staging another collision involving the damaged vehicle. Ciochină does plead guilty.
