Moldova sets up 15-member council for Gagauzia vote
Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission established an expanded 15-member Central Electoral Council for Gagauzia on Tuesday, exceeding standard statutory limits to prepare for the November 15 regional vote.
The newly constituted body will organize simultaneous elections for regional governor (bashkan) and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. Svetlana Colesnic was appointed interim president of the council, which must convene its inaugural session by September 19.
Expanded council membership
Under standard Electoral Code rules, the regional election council comprises an odd number of members between seven and 11, designated by the regional assembly, local courts, and parliamentary parties. However, nine political parties currently represented in Moldova's parliament exercised their legal right to delegate members, pushing the composition past the statutory ceiling.
“Until these provisions come into force, Article 245 of the Electoral Code permits a derogation from the maximum membership ceiling to accommodate nominees from all designated stakeholders,” said CEC Vice President Pavel Postica.
Officials then filled the remaining vacant slots using the national Registry of Electoral Officials, bringing the total to 15 members under the temporary legal mechanism.
Key electoral milestones
The council faces tight statutory deadlines ahead of the autumn ballot. It must delineate single-member constituencies by September 21 and establish first-level constituency councils by September 26. Polling stations must be set up by October 11, followed by precinct electoral bureaus by October 21.
Campaign finance regulations approved on Tuesday establish a spending ceiling of 36,144 MDL (approx. €1,850) for initiative groups supporting gubernatorial candidates. Registered candidates running for bashkan face an overall campaign spending cap of 3.12 million MDL (approx. €160,000).
The Central Electoral Commission intervened to schedule the regional elections on September 1 after Comrat lawmakers failed to call the vote within mandatory deadlines. The governor’s post fell vacant earlier this year following the finalization of a criminal conviction against former bashkan Evghenia Guțul. Central authorities will finance the regional electoral operations with over €695,000 (approx. 13.6 million MDL) allocated from the state budget.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
RELATED COVERAGE
- Moldova sets Gagauzia regional vote for Nov. 15 under revised code
- Moldova opens Gagauzia election race under new voting rules
- Moldova prepares contingency plans for Gagauzia vote
- PAS has no mayoral candidate in Gagauzia; Igor Grosu denies "hidden agreements" with Stoianoglo
- Comrat Mayor: Holding elections is the key to resolving the impasse in Gagauz Autonomy
