Igor Grosu denies Stoianoglo is PAS' hidden candidate in Gagauzia
The Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) has not yet selected a candidate for the governor of Gagauzia. The party's leader, Igor Grosu, has dismissed opposition speculation that former prosecutor general Alexandr Stoianoglo would be an unofficial PAS candidate. Grosu emphasized that the government's primary goal is to ensure a fair electoral process in Gagauzia, free from outside influence, and to prevent electoral corruption.
The PAS party is still evaluating whether to enter the electoral race for autonomy, according to the Speaker of Parliament.
"We have not yet made a decision on this matter; I’m being honest with you. We are still in discussions. Our main objective is to ensure that the elections in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia are conducted fairly—without being bought, manipulated, or influenced from outside," Igor Grosu stated during an interview on Jurnal TV on September 9.
The Head of the Legislative Assembly emphasized that the authorities in Chisinau have exhausted all diplomatic efforts with representatives from Comrat to align local electoral rules with the new Electoral Code.
"We have explored all options and facilitated discussions in Parliament and the Presidency with deputies, opinion leaders, and other representatives from Gagauzia. We tried to help them find a common ground regarding the specific electoral regulations. Unfortunately, the People's Assembly did not approve these rules. Therefore, we felt it was necessary to provide the Central Electoral Commission with the tools needed to activate the mechanisms for properly organizing the elections," explained the Speaker.
Grosu further stated that the government seeks to support new local political figures who have resisted oligarchic and Russian influence in the region.
"We want to encourage new, young politicians—individuals who have not previously been involved in politics but are local opinion leaders. They are the critical voices opposing the undermining of autonomy, as we see the Russian influence attempting to take hold through Șor," pointed out the President of Parliament.
In response to rumors circulated in public and on Telegram channels, attributed to the opposition, suggesting that Alexandr Stoianoglo colluded with the government to gain support in Comrat, Igor Grosu labeled this information as disinformation.
"Clearly, that is false. To be honest, we rarely communicate with Mr. Stoianoglo, mostly during plenary sessions," he said.
However, the head of the Legislative Assembly noted Stoianoglo's constructive role during the discussions to standardize electoral rules across the country.
"I witnessed his performance during the negotiations. He maintained a very reasonable position, and I was pleasantly surprised. He frequently interjected, reminding his colleagues that the solution was clear, beneficial, and correct, and that the same electoral rules should apply throughout the Republic of Moldova," concluded the President of the Parliament.
We remind you that the elections for the position of Bashkan of the Gagauzia Territorial Administrative Unit will be held on November 15, 2026, concurrently with the elections for the People's Assembly of Gagauzia (PAG). The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) made this decision on September 1, after the PAG failed to set the election date within the required legal timeframe.
Bashkan's position became vacant after Evghenia Guțul's final conviction this summer. Authorities in Comrat confirmed the vacancy with a decision on August 17, 2026.
According to the legal framework, regional elections must be organized within three months of a position becoming vacant, and local deputies were required to establish the election date at least 80 days prior to the election.
According to the Central Electoral Commission, the elections in the autonomy are expected to cost over 13.6 million lei, funded by the state budget. This amount will cover the operations of the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia, the constituency electoral councils, and the electoral bureaus.
