Gagauzia People's Assembly session postponed due to lack of quorum
Deputies of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia (PAG) failed to secure the necessary quorum for the September 23 session, despite several attempts to convene throughout the day. The session, originally scheduled for 11:00 AM, was postponed to 3:00 PM, but the required number of deputies was still not met even after it resumed. Ultimately, Chairman Valentin Gaidarji proposed rescheduling the session for Friday, September 25.
The proposed meeting agenda includes a draft declaration “regarding the inadmissibility of violating electoral legislation.” The People's Assembly expresses its disagreement with the actions taken by central authorities and the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) during preparations for the elections for the position of Bashkan and for the People's Assembly of Gagauzia, scheduled for November 15.
The declaration challenges the CEC's authority to set the date for the Bashkan election. The authors argue that the Assembly did not have enough time to adopt such a decision after the new legislative provisions entered into force.
Furthermore, the declaration criticizes the reduction of the voter turnout threshold for the Bashkan election to 25% for the first round and its elimination for any repeat vote. The authors maintain that these amendments contravene the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia.
Separately, the document expresses dissatisfaction regarding the appointment of the interim chairperson of the Central Electoral Commission of Gagauzia. The draft states that the appointee neither resides in Gagauzia nor speaks Gagauz.
In the concluding section of the draft, the People's Assembly calls upon the Parliament, the President, and the Government of the Republic of Moldova to cease what the authors term “political pressure on the autonomy.”
According to the Electoral Code, the People's Assembly must set the election date at least 80 days before the vote. If the decision is not adopted within the established timeframe, the CEC sets the election date at least 75 days before the vote—which is precisely what happened in the election for the position of Bashkan. The Central Election Commission decided that the election will take place on November 15, coinciding with the elections for the People's Assembly. According to the CEC, the two votes will cost the state budget over 13.6 million lei.
The term of the current People's Assembly of Gagauzia (APG) expired on November 15, 2025, and the office of Bashkan became vacant after Evghenia Guțul's conviction became final—a decision to this effect was adopted by the authorities in Comrat on August 17.
The acceptance of documents to register candidates for the office of Bashkan of Gagauzia began on September 21. So far, Fiodor Gagauz, Nicolai Dudoglo, Alexandr Stoianoglo, Ivana Koksal, and Piotr Vlah have announced their intention to run.
