PSRM and MAN signal potential majority to unblock Chisinau’s 2026 fiscal plan
The Socialist Party (PSRM) faction in the Chisinau Municipal Council has signaled its readiness to form a majority with Mayor Ion Ceban’s MAN party. This coalition aims to approve the 2026 municipal budget, ending a year-long fiscal impasse.
PSRM leader Igor Dodon proposed a 10-day legislative window starting February 3 to finalize negotiations. The Socialists have conditioned their support on the allocation of significant energy subsidies for low-income urban families.
The proposed funding would come from redirecting "non-priority expenditures," such as public concerts, toward social protection. Dodon emphasized that the city is currently operating on an outdated 2024 budget framework, despite a significant increase in fiscal revenue.
The Mayor’s office has accumulated a surplus of several hundred million MDL (approx. €10M - €15M). PSRM insists these funds must be allocated via Council decision rather than executive decree to reflect current economic realities and rising inflation.
Mayor Ion Ceban confirmed preliminary discussions with PSRM representatives. He stated that the Finance Department is currently reviewing the proposals, noting his priority remains the capital's administrative stability and resident interests.
The Chisinau Municipal Council has struggled with volatility, as the 2025 budget failed to pass eight times. A potential PSRM-MAN alliance, controlling 26 of 51 seats, would provide the minimum threshold required for adoption.
While the pro-European PAS faction has proposed similar subsidies, PSRM currently prioritizes direct negotiations with the Mayor's executive team. This shift suggests a strategic realignment to bypass the legislative stalemate that paralyzed city projects throughout 2025.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
