New legal framework to unblock Gagauzia local elections
Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Speaker Igor Grosu have initiated a high-level working group to resolve the electoral deadlock in the Gagauzia autonomy. The move follows urgent talks on April 23 with local officials and regional deputies.
The new group, including central authorities and mayors from the region, aims to draft a document on "regional electoral specifics." This legal bridge is expected to unblock the People’s Assembly (APG) elections, allowing the vote to proceed later this year.
Closing the "outlaw" loopholes
Speaker Igor Grosu criticized the current lack of oversight in the region's electoral system. He highlighted the absence of integrity checks for election officials and the lack of voter verification systems at polling stations.
"In Gagauzia, there is currently no cap on cash donations," Grosu warned ahead of the April 24 parliamentary session. He described these regulatory gaps as "a windfall for outlaws" that undermines national security and democratic transparency.
The struggle for institutional control
Tensions remain regarding the regional electoral body. While Chisinau offered to fund the commission from the state budget (€X, approx. Y MDL) in exchange for professional standards, Comrat insisted on local funding and a specific regional title.
The Gagauzia People’s Assembly has been without a fresh mandate since November 2025. Previous election dates for 2026 were canceled by the courts due to direct conflicts between regional laws and the national Electoral Code.
The Ministry of Justice has now petitioned the Constitutional Court. The court will review whether Gagauzia’s power to appoint its own electoral body aligns with the nation’s supreme law.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
