Comrat Mayor: Holding elections is the key to resolving the impasse in Gagauz Autonomy
Serghei Anastasov, the mayor of Comrat, believes that organizing elections as soon as possible to establish a new People's Assembly in Gagauzia is the key solution to overcoming the region's current impasse. In an interview with journalist Svetlana Bogatu from Radio Moldova, Anastasov emphasized that the new local legislature should consist of individuals with impeccable political reputations and no connections to the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor.
The current mandate of the People's Assembly is set to expire in November, but elections cannot be organized due to the absence of a functional electoral commission in the region. In this context, Anastasov rejects the idea of establishing a temporary administration, arguing that accelerating the electoral process is the solution favored by the majority of residents.
The mayor also emphasized the importance of thoroughly vetting candidates to prevent individuals with ties to controversial political figures from gaining public office. "People do not want those who lie in power," stated the mayor of Comrat.
When asked about the principal risks of destabilization and the challenges faced by local authorities, Serghei Anastasov pointed out that, although the autonomy has a reasonable budget, its administration is inefficient. Over the past two to three years, financial transfers to Comrat and other localities have been nearly nonexistent. "Practically, we have no funds for the development of the city. There are some initiatives for kindergartens, but they are insufficient," the mayor noted.
Additionally, the mayor believes that more consistent efforts are needed to promote the Gagauz language and the mother tongues of other ethnic communities in the region.
Regarding the relationship with the central authorities, Anastasov described it as positive. He welcomed President Maia Sandu’s visit to Comrat this summer and noted that the mayors of the autonomy had the opportunity to participate in several meetings in Parliament.
The mayor expressed his desire for legislative amendments that would ensure more predictability and fairness in the allocation of funds to local authorities, free from political influence.
The People's Assembly of Gagauzia (Halk Toplușu) is the representative and legislative authority of the region, composed of 35 deputies elected for a four-year term. The elections were scheduled for November 16, 2025, the first Sunday after the expiration of the current legislature's term. But, without a functional electoral authority, the elections cannot be held.
We recall that the Central Electoral Commission was dissolved in December 2023, at the initiative of Dmitri Constantinov, the president of the local legislature, who cited the "inefficiency" of the commission between campaigns and the need for institutional reform. At the meeting of August 15, 2025, local deputies approved three candidacies from the People's Assembly for the future composition of the regional electoral authority. Still, the Executive and the institution of the Bashkan did not submit their own candidates. The Comrat Court refused to delegate a representative as long as the decision to dissolve the previous electoral body does not have a finality in court.
