Irina Gutnic may temporarily return as Chișinău vice mayor

The Chisinau Court of Appeal has suspended the order issued by General Mayor Ion Ceban to revoke Irina Gutnic from her position as vice mayor of Chișinău. This suspension allows Gutnic to provisionally return to her role until a final decision is reached regarding the merits of the case.

The court overturned a previous ruling from the Râșcani sector of the Chisinau Judiciary that had rejected Gutnic’s request for suspension. Judges noted there are “serious and reasonable suspicions” that the administrative act used to remove her from office may not be legal.

In their reasoning, the magistrates emphasized that the authority to appoint an official does not grant the mayor an unconditional right to unilaterally terminate their mandate. The court highlighted that the Law on the Status of the Municipality of Chișinău dictates a specific procedure for removing vice mayors, which includes examining the matter in two consecutive sessions of the Municipal Council.

This decision does not constitute a permanent reinstatement or a final ruling on the legality of the revocation; rather, it restores the previous legal status of the vice mayor temporarily while the underlying litigation is processed.