The Timiș Tribunal postponed the ruling in Dominic Fritz’s case concerning the termination of his mayoral mandate

The Timiș Tribunal on Tuesday postponed its ruling in the case in which Mayor Dominic Fritz is challenging the prefect’s order establishing that his term in office had ended. Initially, the courts’ portal listed November 25 as the ruling date, but the entry was changed a few minutes later. The court’s minutes now state only that the ruling has been postponed, without specifying a new date.

Prefect Paul Finta’s order was issued on October 2, after amendments to the integrity law, known as the “Fritz amendment,” entered into force. These provisions stipulate that the terms of local elected officials subject to a ban on holding public office shall end.

Fritz challenged the order on October 19 and argues that the new law must be applied in full. His lawyers invoke another amendment that decriminalizes local elected officials’ participation in the adoption of normative administrative acts, arguing that it applies to the Urban Plan approved by the mayor.

Dominic Fritz was found to be in a conflict of interest by the National Integrity Agency (ANI), and the ruling was upheld with final effect by the High Court on June 18. The prefect is seeking dismissal of the action and says the order issued is declaratory in nature. The Timiș Tribunal’s ruling will be final, and the latest date indicated for the ruling is November 18.