Chișinău Mayor Ion Ceban Opts Out of Presidential Race
The Mayor of Chișinău, Ion Ceban, has announced that he will not run in the upcoming presidential elections this autumn.
During a press conference, he emphasised that the citizens have entrusted him with their vote to lead the capital, and he intends to honour all commitments to the residents. Additionally, Ceban mentioned that the National Alternative Movement (MAN), the party he leads, is gearing up for next year's parliamentary elections.
"The Parliament serves as the supreme decision-making body of the country. It is a misconception that significant changes occur at the Presidency (...). We are a parliamentary nation, and the MAN party is preparing for next year's parliamentary elections to comprehensively represent the interests of the citizens of the Republic of Moldova, both domestically and internationally."
Ion Ceban is currently serving his second term as the Mayor of the capital, a position he secured in the local elections of November 2023. According to a recent opinion poll conducted by IMAS, Ion Ceban ranks third in the preferences of voters who have decided whom to vote for in the presidential elections.
Since the establishment of the MAN party in 2022, primarily composed of municipal employees, Ceban has advocated for "European integration to become a national ideal." This stands in contrast to his previous affiliation with the PSRM until his first term as the city's leader in 2019, a membership he later relinquished, emphasising that city hall would be free from "geopolitics and politics."
It is worth noting that MAN is among the signatories of the "Pact for Europe," an initiative launched by the "Together" Bloc. Ion Ceban clarified that this Pact does not imply support for any specific party or candidate from MAN; instead, it signifies a commitment to the ideal of European integration.
Translation by Iurie Tataru