The previous local elections were held at the end of September 2020, and the term of office for local elected representatives was four years starting from the start of their mandate in October 2020, thus ending in October 2024. Concerns were raised, in particular in the letter enclosed with the request, that holding an early election in June could create confusion regarding the commencement of the mandates, which was not brought forward. According to the normal procedure of the Administrative Code, local councils must be constituted within 60 days of the election date.7 While the Government and the Permanent Electoral Authority considered the changes to be of a mere technical nature, opposition representatives alleged that the results of the local elections could have been different had they not been brought forward; NGOs referred to decisions “imposed” on their successors by the incumbents during the period between the elections and the new local authorities taking office (such as contracts).