​The Bucharest Court of Appeal is forcing the government to hold elections for the Sector 5 mayor’s office after almost a year and a half of the mayor’s post being vacant following the imprisonment of Cristian Popescu Piedone.

The court’s decision was made on Wednesday in a process open to Alexander Dimitriou of USR, who wants to run for mayor of Sector 5.

“The defendant obliges the Romanian government to issue a government decision on setting the date of the partial elections for the position of mayor of sector 5 of Bucharest. It obliges the defendants, the Permanent Electoral Body and the Ministry of the Interior, to formulate proposals to the Romanian government regarding the appointment of the date of the partial elections for the position of Mayor of Sector 5 of Bucharest,” the court’s decision reads.

By law, an election had to be held within 90 days of a position becoming vacant.

“The court confirms the abuses committed by the PSD PNL government by not organizing the district 5 mayoral elections. I call on Chuke and Bode at least now, at 12 o’clock, to respect the laws and the Romanian Constitution and stop blocking the rights of the citizens of sector 5 to elect their mayor,” – said Alexandru Dimitriou.