PM Bolojan: Elections for Bucharest City Hall this autumn or next spring

Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan stated that the elections for the Bucharest City Hall could take place this autumn or in the spring of next year.

"The elections for Bucharest [for the mayor office] could take place this autumn or in the spring of next year. (...) The legal framework hasn't been exceeded yet. But here, there is a need for an agreement [in the coalition] and I hope to find the formula this month, so a decision be made in this regard," Bolojan told Europa FM radio station, agerpres reports.

He pleaded for the election of a mayor who has "proven" competencies and who has "a good dialogue" with the General Council of the Capital. In this regard, he mentioned that the General Council of the Municipality of Bucharest (CGMB) is "quite fragmented" politically, and such a council is not easy to manage.

"Based on the survey carried out by the PNL [the National Liberal Party], the best-placed candidate from our side is my colleague, the mayor of District 6, Mr Ciprian Ciucu. He is at the top of the confidence ranking in the Capital and could be a strong contender for the Bucharest City Hall," the PM said.

The parties in the coalition must carry out analysis in view of the local elections and make "rational" decisions," Bolojan stated.

"The political parties must analyse the strategy for the Capital - because we are talking here about a vote in the first round, not like in the presidential elections, two-round vote - and every type of election requires different strategies. It is obvious that it would be best to have a candidate who is backed by an important critical mass, in order to have real chances of winning. If there are too many candidates on a certain area, they fracture that voter base and a counter-candidate, who comes from a non-majority area, but has 30-35%, could win the elections," PM Bolojan added.