Expulsion of the candidate from the Democracy at Home party Victor Pertsu from the electoral race in Orhei caused a strong reaction. The opposition proposed a boycott of local elections, called for appeals to international structures and accused the authorities of political influence on the electoral process. NewsMaker has asked PAS for comment. PAS MP Dinu Plingau said that “those who now feel sorry for Kostyuk should also applaud Shor.” He also noted that excluding a candidate before an election “is not normal practice” and requires clear rules. “We will pass a blacklist law in parliament: all mayors, councilors and members of governing bodies who were members of an unconstitutional party will no longer be able to stand for office, and that’s it,” he said.
The leader of the Socialist Party, Igor Dodon, said that “PAS imitates the promotion of democracy and human rights abroad, but at the same time destroys democracy and the right to choose in its own country.” He called the exclusion of the candidate in Orhei “a disgusting act of a captured state under the PAS regime.”
The leader of Our Party, Renato Usatii, called for a boycott of the elections. “PAS will remove the rest so that the one they need remains. (…) The only way to show them that they cannot do whatever they want is a complete boycott of the elections in Orhei,” he said.
Former Prosecutor General, deputy from the Alternative bloc, Alexander Stoianoglo, said that accusations against the Democracy at Home party require proof.
“If there is illegal financing, hidden coordination, prohibited networks – prove it. This is done through evidence, trial and traceability of money. If exclusion is based on background or suspicion, it sets a dangerous precedent,” he said.
The mayor of Chisinau, Ion Ceban, said that “the elections in Orhei show the capture of the state by all institutions by PAS.” He also questioned the compliance of the electoral process with European standards and called on the opposition to contact international structures.
Political commentator Ilian Casu said that the CEC’s decision caused widespread public outcry. “Against such a backdrop of discontent, candidate Perts needed to not only post a video, but also go out to protest,” he said.
Deputy from the Democracy at Home party Alexander Vershinin said that he would send a request to include the members of the Central Election Commission who voted to exclude the candidate on the US sanctions list.
PAS MP Dinu Plingau also said that the candidate for mayor of Orhei was previously part of the leadership of the Shor party and this is a “well-known fact.” He added that “the CEC bears responsibility for the situation.” “Withdrawal of candidates three days before the election is not normal,” he said.
Plingau proposed to enshrine in law a ban on participation in elections for representatives of unconstitutional parties, including their former members and leaders.
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On May 2, the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) announced that it had canceled the registration of Orhei mayoral candidate from the Democracy at Home party, Victor Pertu, for the local elections on May 17, 2026. The decision was made after considering a request from Pertu’s opponent from the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Sergiu Stanciu, who accused Pertu and the party that nominated him of having links with the unconstitutional Sor party.
The leader of Democracy at Home, Vasile Costiuc, accused the CEC of being politically biased, promising to appeal the decision in the Court of Appeal.
Let us remind you that the former district councilor from the unconstitutional Shor party, Victor Pertu, now holds the position of director of the Apă Canal Orhei enterprise. In 2022, Pertu was appointed vice-chairman of the Orhei district. He later actively participated in protests organized by the former Shor party.
Let us remind you that on May 17, local elections will be held in ten localities, including Orhei. Reception of documents for registration of candidates ended on April 7.
Ilan Shor was sentenced in absentia in Moldova to 15 years in prison in the case of stealing a billion.
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