The race to replace Nicusor dan as Bucharest’s mayor officially began Saturday, with campaigning set to conclude December 6th following his recent election as Romania’s president. PNL candidate Ciprian Ciucu has proposed a televised debate including the five candidates currently polling highest, seeking a focused discussion on platforms and visions for the capital city. An AtlasIntel poll released this week shows a tight contest among Ciucu, Daniel Baluta, and Cătălin Drulă, setting the stage for a closely-watched election that will likely signal broader shifts in the Romanian political landscape.
Ciprian Ciucu, at the end of the PNL meeting on August 19, 2025. Photo: HotNews / David Leonard Bularca
Ciprian Ciucu, the PNL candidate for Bucharest’s mayoral race, has proposed a televised debate featuring the five frontrunners according to current polling data.
“Today marks the first day of the campaign, and it’s a short one,” Ciucu stated in a Facebook post on Saturday, November 22nd. “I propose a first debate with the top five candidates, as indicated by opinion polls. This approach has several benefits: first, each of these candidates has the potential to significantly influence the election outcome – the top five are seen as the main players. Second, it covers the entire ideological spectrum and is balanced, allowing our messages to reach the public. Let’s finally talk about visions and projects.”
The campaign for Bucharest’s next mayor officially began on Saturday, November 22nd, and will conclude at 7:00 AM on December 6th, according to Agerpres.
Eighteen candidates have entered the race to fill the position left vacant by Nicusor Dan after his successful presidential bid. The mayoral election is closely watched as a key indicator of the political landscape in Romania.
An AtlasIntel poll conducted for HotNews between November 12th and 14th shows Ciprian Ciucu leading with 19.2%, followed by Daniel Baluta at 18.6%, Cătălin Drulă with 18.1%, Anca Alexandrescu at 17.9%, and Ana Ciceală with 7.1%.
USR candidate Cătălin Drulă has also challenged his opponents to a debate, but has specifically invited only the PNL and USR candidates.
“I once again call on my opponents, Daniel Băluță and Ciprian Ciucu, to participate in debates, to openly discuss projects and what we are doing for this city and its people,” Drulă wrote in a Facebook post on Friday evening.
