Over 130 candidates register for Gagauzia legislative election
A total of 133 candidates submitted registration files for Gagauzia’s regional legislature ahead of the Tuesday registration deadline, election authorities in the southern autonomous region of Moldova said.
Regional legislative contest
Local electoral councils in Comrat, Ceadir-Lunga, and Vulcanesti accepted candidate submissions until 17:00 on Tuesday, October 6. The race will decide the 35 deputies of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia.
According to the region’s Central Electoral Council, political parties nominated 40 candidates, while 93 contenders opted to collect endorsement signatures as independents. Among the independent aspirants, 15 individuals were still gathering the required signatures by the final day.
To date, regional authorities have formally validated 26 candidates, comprising 20 party nominees and six independents. The remaining applications remain under review.
Twin electoral vote
The official election campaign opens on October 16, allowing registered contenders one month to campaign before voters head to the polls on November 15, 2026.
The legislative vote coincides with Gagauzia’s gubernatorial election. Eight candidates filed bids for the governor’s seat (Bashkan), with three already cleared for the race.
Official records from the State Register of Voters listed 129,613 eligible citizens in Gagauzia as of October 1, 2026.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
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