Marian Vanghelie

Running at the time as an independent candidate, Vanghelie was the only of the six Bucharest district mayors to win from the first round, at a comfortable 27% margin.

[3] Best described as a populist, Vanghelie started his center-stage political career in the year 2000, when he was elected mayor in the same sector.

[5] In 2008 he had General Iacob Lahovary's remains removed from his tomb at Bellu Cemetery; Vanghelie's grandfather, Constantin Niculae, was buried there, instead.

[9] The judge decided to convict Vanghelie for each of the three charges brought against him: bribery, abuse of office, and money laundering.

[10] In April 2024, the Independent Social Democratic Party, founded by Marian Vanghelie and led by Leonard Petre, joined the Romanian Sovereignist Bloc.