Central Election Commission promises rigorous oversight for March 2026 Comrat elections
The upcoming elections for the People's Assembly of Gagauzia are expected to be challenging. The vote will take place under new regulations, and any violations, particularly those involving illegal financing, will be subject to quicker sanctions. The regional electoral council must strictly adhere to national legislation, with oversight by the Central Electoral Commission in Chisinau. However, the current process is hindered by a significant issue: many members of the Council in Comrat have resigned, leaving the institution lacking the necessary personnel to organize the election.
The executive director of the Association for Participatory Democracy (ADEPT), Igor Boțan, believes that one of the biggest challenges in organizing the upcoming elections in Comrat is the need to restore the functioning of the Electoral Council in the region.
“Currently, several members of the Comrat Electoral Commission have submitted their resignations, and it is the responsibility of the People's Assembly to appoint new members. The key issue is that those appointed must be, above all, competent,” Igor Boțan stated in an interview with Moldova 1 TV.
Svetlana Mironova, a former member of the Comrat Electoral Commission, warns that the results of the upcoming elections could be contested due to legislative discrepancies. She highlights the differences between the National Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova and the code applicable to Gagauz autonomy, which could lead to litigation and legal ambiguities.
The most recent code, which came into effect in 2023, has established a one-year transition period for implementing provisions related to regional elections.
“There are many aspects that need to be clarified regarding their application. One such aspect concerns financing. Currently, it is impossible to amend the Electoral Code of Gagauzia until after the new People's Assembly is elected,” Svetlana Mironova explained.
Regarding financing transparency, Pavel Postică, vice-president of the Central Electoral Commission, reported that following the 2023 Bashkan elections, the CEC initiated 106 administrative cases for violations.
“Certain violations are likely to occur. What is essential is that the authorities respond quickly, effectively, and in a way that deters such behavior. In the 2023 elections, the response was delayed. Unfortunately, my colleagues from the Electoral Council of Gagauzia did not act promptly, and the subsequent intervention of the CEC was necessary in each case of illegal financing,” Pavel Postică emphasized during the interview.
We remind you that elections for the People's Assembly in Comrat will take place on March 22, 2026, as the current assembly's mandate ended on November 12.
The elections for the People's Assembly are conducted using a uninominal voting system, with at least one elected representative for each locality. The People's Assembly consists of 35 regionally elected representatives.
