When the EU-Gagauzia dialogue will be launched and what Maia Sandu says about the appointment of Evgenia Gutul as a member of the Government
The European Union delegation in Chisinau will launch a dialogue with the Gagauz authorities when all legal procedures are completed following the election of a new Bashkan, EU Ambassador Janis Mazeiks said. However, the diplomat said, it is very important to understand who the new Bashkan will represent - the Gagauz or a party declared unconstitutional.
"I think now we have to understand how things will develop. There are still many unclear elements. There is no office of the Bashkan, the Bashkan is not confirmed as a member of the Moldovan government. For any dialogue to develop, we need to know who and what we are dealing with. It is also important for us to understand who she will represent - the Gagauz people or the former "Shor" party, led by a convicted person," said Janis Mazeiks.
It is unclear for now whether a presidential decree will be signed appointing Evgenia Guțul as a member of the government, but when asked by Ziarul de Gardă, President Maia Sandu said that she will respect the legal provisions in this regard.
"We are a democratic country and I am guided by the legal provisions, even if in the case of the elections in ATU Gagauzia, the democratic processes were vitiated and the responsible institutions could not prevent this. We acknowledge these shortcomings and we will continue to work to make institutions stronger and democratic processes fully respected. We will continue to take all measures to combat destabilising actions in the country and to sanction those involved in these activities", Maia Sandu said.
On 4 August, the People's Assembly in Comrat rejected the new Bashkan's proposals for members of the Executive Committee of Gagauzia. The deputies claim that the proposed persons do not meet the requirements.
Evghenia Guțul, the representative of the former Shor party, won the May elections for Bashkan in an election whose fairness was challenged and state institutions complained of electoral violations and fraud.
