Preliminary results show no candidate won a majority in Orhei and Taraclia, triggering a second round
At least two localities have successfully elected their mayors in the first round of voting. However, in Orhei and Taraclia towns, a second round of local elections will be organized because no candidate received more than 50% of the votes. The Central Electoral Commission has released the preliminary results of the elections held on Sunday, May 17, which included the election of mayors, local councilors, and the organization of local referendums to recall certain mayors.
In the village of Costești, in the Ialoveni district, 3,613 voters participated in the elections, accounting for 36.95% of all registered voters on the electoral lists. According to preliminary results, Grigore Țurcan, the candidate from the Action and Solidarity Party, won the first round with 1,935 votes, representing 54.40% of the total votes cast.
In the village of Plop, located in the Dondușeni district, voters elected their mayor in the first round. A total of 548 people participated in the election, accounting for 56.26% of registered voters.
The candidate from the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Gheorghe Panfil, received 374 votes, representing 68.88% of the total votes cast.
The candidate from the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM), Vadim Ungurean, received 136 votes, or 25.05%. Meanwhile, Dmitrii Heiu, the candidate from the Party for the Future of Moldova, secured 33 votes, which is 6.08% of the total.
In the city of Orhei, independent candidate Ramiz Ansarov is currently leading the electoral race. He is followed by Sergiu Aga, the candidate from the League of Cities and Communes Party, who is in second place, with a 4.32% difference. Since neither candidate has garnered the necessary majority of votes, a second round of voting will be held in the locality.
The second round of voting will take place in the city of Taraclia. Preliminary data from the Central Election Commission (CEC) indicates that independent candidate Alexandr Borimecicov received the most votes, followed closely by Ecaterina Iacobceac, the candidate from the Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova.
In some areas, certain elections did not feature real competition. For example, in the village of Mașcăuți within the Criuleni district, PAS candidate Aurelia Morărescu received 100% of the valid votes cast. Similarly, in the village of Topala in the Cimișlia district, PAS candidate Tamara Ciubotaru also secured all the valid votes cast.
In the Frumușica commune of the Florești district, Igor Groza, the candidate from the Respect Moldova Movement Political Party, received the most votes.
According to electoral law, a candidate for mayor is declared elected if they receive more than half of the valid votes cast by voters at the polls.
If no candidate meets this requirement, a second round of voting is held within two weeks, featuring the top two candidates from the first round.
The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) also presented preliminary results from local referendums concerning the recall of certain mayors. In the village of Hăsnășenii Mari, Drochia district, approximately 40% of voters participated, with nearly 70% voting in favor of the “YES” option.
In the commune of Sadîc, in the Cantemir district, 414 voters took part in the referendum, representing about 23% of the electorate. Preliminary data indicate that 91% of those participants supported the “YES” option.
