Ciprian Ciucu stays under judicial control as Bucharest court rejects his appeal

Romanian anti‑corruption prosecutors have kept Bucharest’s mayor Ciprian Ciucu under judicial control for 60 days after the Tribunalul București rejected his request to lift the measure. DNA alleges that, during the 2025 municipal election campaign, Ciucu received illicit services – free advertising and electoral consultancy – from two real‑estate developers in exchange for a building permit and an urban planning certificate for a large project.

The investigation also encompasses other figures linked to the case, including businesspeople from the gambling sector, journalist Denise Rifai and Odeta Nestor, who is accused of paying bribes to officials at the National Office for Gambling. Prosecutors have seized documents, audited phone records and are conducting forensic analysis of seized devices. Parallel political fallout includes criticism of Ciucu’s proposal to merge Bucharest’s parks and cemeteries, which opponents describe as a maneuver to benefit real‑estate interests.