Chisinau Council stalemate persists as PAS meeting lacks quorum
Efforts to convene an extraordinary session of the Chisinau Municipal Council (CMC) by the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) proved unsuccessful again on Friday, further delaying progress on key matters like the 2024 budget.
This marks the second time in two weeks that a PAS-initiated CMC meeting has failed to materialise due to lack of quorum, with only 17 of the 51 councillors present. The remaining councillors, representing other parties, did not attend.
Zinaida Popa, head of the PAS faction in the CMC, expressed frustration at the ongoing impasse. "We cannot form factions or delegate councillors to committees without a functioning council," she stated. "This raises questions about the commitment of other parties to addressing municipal issues."
Popa further suggested a possible alliance between Mayor Ion Ceban and other political groups, citing their absence from the meeting. Ceban, however, countered these claims, dismissing the PAS efforts as "political show" and highlighting ongoing consultations on local taxes as the reason for the budget delay.
The stalemate leaves the 2024 budget in limbo, adding to already existing tensions between the PAS-led council and Ceban's administration. Ceban recently announced plans to optimise spending in education and social welfare due to financial constraints, citing pressure from the national government.
With both sides locked in a dispute, Chisinau residents face mounting uncertainty regarding crucial matters like budget allocation and policy decisions. It remains unclear how the political standoff will be resolved and when the CMC will be able to function effectively.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
