Tensions rise in Gagauzia AP over fund distribution
Tensions are mounting within the Gagauzia People's Assembly (AP). The conflict flared up between two deputies concerning the local funding dispute for the region's Contribution Fund Gagauzia, after a document failed to include key development projects from the mayoralties of Ceadîr-Lunga and Vulcănești.
This omission immediately sparked dissatisfaction among the local representatives.
The exclusion was particularly contentious because the Regional Executive of Gagauzia had previously approved these initiatives. Their absence from the final financial document generated considerable indignation among the local elected officials.
"On behalf of the representatives from Vulcănești, we propose to put to the vote the introduction of a supplementary question, specifically regarding the contribution for Vulcănești and Ceadîr-Lunga," urged AP deputy Petru Fazlî.
AP Chairman Dmitri Constantinov stated during the session that the core problem was a lack of available money, noting that only 11 million lei remained in the fund.
However, some deputies suspect the resources from the Contribution Compensation Fund are not being subjected to uniform budget distribution. They specifically pointed out that the mayoralties of major cities in the Autonomous Region, such as Comrat, appear to receive disproportionately larger allocations.
Grigori Diulgher, an AP deputy, made the following data public, referencing the Gagauzia Construction Directorate: "I want to make public the sums received between 2017 and 2024 inclusive – which localities and how much money they received from the Contribution Compensation Fund. First place is Comrat – 50.3 million lei. Second place – Ceadîr-Lunga. Colleagues are now complaining that Ceadîr-Lunga is not receiving money – 26.1 million lei."
This public disclosure was not well-received by Ilia Uzun, the Vice-Chairman of the Comrat Regional Executive.
"I requested this data table from Serghei Mihailovici from the Construction Directorate. This data was collected for almost four months. Of course, I will discuss with Serghei Mihailovici why he offered it to Grigori Ivanovici, because it was prepared for all deputies," emphasized the Vice-Chairman of the Gagauzia executive.
One critical initiative left off the final list is the construction of an Industrial Platform in Ceadîr-Lunga. City Mayor Anatoli Topal made a direct appeal to the deputies to approve the necessary local funding.
"To date, the state has allocated 22.5 million lei, the regional authorities – 11 million lei, of which you allocated 5.4 million lei. Approximately 4 million lei represents the contribution of the Ceadîr-Lunga mayor's office. There is a tripartite agreement. Eight mayoralties have signed the agreement for a common project, estimated to create 500 to 1,000 jobs. We have an investor waiting for this platform," said Mayor Anatoli Topal.
Following prolonged, heated deliberation, AP Speaker Dmitri Constantinov proposed removing the topic of including the Ceadîr-Lunga and Vulcănești projects from the day's agenda. While the majority of deputies supported the move, new questions and unresolved ambiguities resurfaced immediately before the vote count.
The Contribution Compensation Fund in Gagauzia was established in 2017. Its purpose is to help mayoralties attract extra-budgetary funds by covering the mandatory local self-contribution for such projects from the autonomy's budget. The fund's budget for this year totals 20 million lei.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
