Moldova Constitutional Court upholds Romanian language requirement for Gagauzia governor candidates

The Constitutional Court of Moldova has ruled that knowledge of the Romanian language remains a mandatory requirement for candidates running for the position of governor (bashkan) of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia.

The court rejected a challenge filed by deputies from the Socialist Party, who argued that the requirement in the Electoral Code imposed an additional barrier to the right to be elected. The petitioners cited Gagauzia’s special legal status, noting that the regional law requires the governor to know the Gagauz language, and argued that the electoral requirement contradicted constitutional standards and international norms.

Constitutional Court President Domnica Manole stated that the Romanian language is a constitutional value and an integral part of Moldova’s identity. The court noted that the official status of Romanian applies to Gagauzia and that the region's autonomy must be interpreted in conjunction with the Constitution. The ruling emphasized that Romanian is one of the official languages of the region and is essential for communication with central authorities.