Elections

Moldova guards Gagauzia regional vote against boycott

Moldova’s Central Electoral Commission is preparing contingency measures against a potential boycott of the Nov. 15 regional elections in Gagauzia, following protracted negotiations between central and local authorities, officials announced.

The immediate indicator of potential disruption will be the appointment of members to the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia, ahead of the Sept. 11 deadline. Central authorities underscored that alternative mechanisms will be deployed if local institutions or political parties fail to nominate delegates.

Safeguarding Electoral Administration

CEC Vice-President Pavel Postica stated on Radio Moldova that election officials are ready to step in should regional bodies resist cooperation.

“The members of the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia are to be delegated by the People’s Assembly, the courts, and parliamentary parties,” said Postica. “If individuals are not appointed through ordinary procedures, we will select certified electoral officials from the national register, including personnel from neighboring localities.”

Campaign funding rules and financial oversight mechanisms will apply in strict compliance with national legislation. All campaign finances will be monitored directly through central digital registries to prevent illicit funding flows.

Monitoring Digital Funding and Vote Buying

While electoral corruption has historically challenged the region, tighter legislative standards could significantly curb illegal schemes, according to experts.

WatchDog analyst Ștefan Bejan warned that illicit financing is increasingly shifting toward digital channels, requiring heightened vigilance from law enforcement and the Intelligence and Security Service (SIS).

“Corruption will certainly be at a much lower level this time, but success depends on the capacity of our oversight institutions and the SIS,” said Bejan. “We observe that digital tools, such as cryptocurrency, are becoming the primary sources of masked financing.”

Civil society is also scaling up its presence across the region. Unlike the 2023 gubernatorial vote, the Promo-LEX Association will conduct a comprehensive long-term observation effort, including parallel vote tabulation and campaign expenditure monitoring.

Legislative Framework and Regional Vacuum

Parliament enacted amendments to the Electoral Code under strict scheduling constraints, ensuring residents retain their voting rights after local authorities repeatedly failed to organize the ballot.

Larisa Voloh, vice-chair of the parliamentary committee on public administration, noted that consultations with regional representatives helped shape the transitional legal framework.

The mandate of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia expired in November 2025, leaving the region in a governance vacuum compounded by the definitive seven-year prison sentence handed to former governor Evghenia Guțul for illegal party financing. The dual vote on Nov. 15 will elect both the regional legislature and the governor.

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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