Romanian Independent Cernea Demands Suspension Of Sunday By-Elections

Cernea said he will make a formal request to the Bucharest Electoral Bureau, asking for the suspension of the elections for the 19th constituency in Bucharest. This will allow the Government to issue an Emergency Ordinance permitting independents to run in by-elections, and the Parliament to amend the Law regarding elections for deputy and senator seats.

Cernea said the Electoral Bureau must schedule new elections for the 19th constituency, so that independent candidates or members of parties without Parliament seats can join the race. Otherwise, Cernea said, the elections could be deemed illegal and unconstitutional, and he will challenge their result in court.

The independent also called on the two candidates for this seat - conservative Iuliana Minca and democrat liberal Teo Trandafir - to withdraw temporarily from the race, as proof that they respect the Constitutional Court's ruling.

Independents are allowed to run for lawmaker seats, as per a Tuesday decision of the Constitutional Court, which admitted an exception to the Law regarding by-elections, raised by Cernea.

Bucharest's Electoral Bureau announced it will take a decision regarding this matter after a final court ruling on Cernea's candidacy.

The by-elections for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies, representing Bucharest's 19th constituency are scheduled for Sunday, April 25.

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