The selection of the ruling PAS party’s candidate for mayor of Chișinău has exposed fresh internal tensions and raised questions about how decisions are made within the party. Vladimir Bolea has lost his position as head of the PAS Chișinău organisation, effectively ending his apparent hopes of standing for mayor. Environment Minister Gheorghe Hajder, who had also been discussed as a possible candidate, was required to publicly endorse the party’s eventual nominee.
The episode has been portrayed by critics as evidence that personal ambitions carry little weight within the party led by President Maia Sandu, where internal discipline and loyalty to the leadership take priority. Alongside Bolea, Lilian Carp, Zinaida Popa and Gheorghe Hajder also left their positions in the capital’s party organisation. It remains unclear which departures were voluntary and which were encouraged by the leadership.
PAS candidate choice leaves Hajder on the sidelines
The most awkward position appears to have been reserved for Hajder. Until recently, he was widely mentioned as one of the ruling party’s most likely candidates for mayor of the capital and appeared to take the prospect seriously.
However, PAS chose Stăuceni Mayor Alexandru Vornicu instead. Hajder subsequently published a message supporting Vornicu, publicly accepting a decision that appears to have been made above his level.
At the official presentation of the candidate, Hajder stood in the background of the group photograph. His position in the image prompted ridicule from government critics and Telegram users, who suggested that his mayoral ambitions had been sacrificed to party discipline.
Some described him as the “cook” at the presentation, referring to earlier videos in which Hajder prepared kebabs for senior guests. The mockery was intended to underline how quickly he had gone from potential mayoral candidate to a supporting figure at someone else’s launch.
The response was harsh and personal, but it reflected a broader perception among government opponents that the PAS candidate choice had been imposed rather than reached through an open internal contest.
Why PAS selected Alexandru Vornicu
Alexandru Vornicu, 37, is a trained lawyer serving his second term as mayor of Stăuceni, a community of around 11,000 residents.
During his tenure, Stăuceni obtained city status, constructed a new municipal administration building and increased its profile within the wider Chișinău municipality. Vornicu also heads the municipality’s regional development council. His time in office has not been without controversy. He was previously involved in a case concerning an alleged attempt on his life and faced criticism over the removal of a bus shelter decorated with a mosaic.
Before the announcement, two other names were widely discussed: Gheorghe Hajder and former Chișinău deputy mayor Victor Chironda. The party has not provided a detailed public explanation of why it ultimately selected Vornicu.
“Well, the party leadership must know best,” social media users commented ironically after the announcement.
Internal discipline takes priority
The dispute is more than an ordinary disagreement over a candidacy. It has become a demonstration of how authority operates within the ruling party. Once the leadership settled on Vornicu, senior party members were expected to endorse him publicly, including those who may have hoped to secure the nomination themselves.
For critics, the PAS candidate choice illustrates the limited space for internal competition. Bolea, who had appeared interested in running for mayor, has lost his leadership role in the capital. Hajder, another potential candidate, is now campaigning for the man selected instead of him.
Both are expected to present the result as a united party decision, regardless of their previous ambitions. The episode will reinforce accusations that PAS values discipline and public loyalty more highly than open internal debate. Whether that approach strengthens the party ahead of the mayoral contest or deepens internal resentment remains to be seen.
