Overview
- An official preliminary count with about 90% of ballots tallied shows Ciprian Ciucu leading with 35.4%, with final results still pending.
- AUR-backed Anca Alexandrescu placed second with 22.35%, a strong finish in a city that analysts say is not a far-right stronghold.
- The outcome shifts leverage inside the pro-European governing coalition and gives Bolojan’s Liberals added momentum to pursue planned reforms.
- The seat had been vacant since May after a presidential re-run and a previously cancelled election over suspected Russian interference; former far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu awaits trial on national security charges.
- Pre-election surveys had Alexandrescu tied at the top, but the vote undercut predictions of a far-right breakthrough even as AUR remains influential nationally and opposes military aid to Ukraine while criticizing EU leadership.