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Gagauzia political leadership vacancy and election process

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2026-09-04 16:46 UTC → 2026-09-08 12:24 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The autonomous region of Gagauzia is facing a political crisis following the imprisonment of Bashkan Evghenia Guțul. Guțul was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Chișinău Court for the illegal financing of political parties, a decision that was upheld on appeal. Following her conviction, the People's Assembly declared the office of the Bashkan vacant, with Ilia Uzun designated to exercise the duties of the office in the interim. Efforts to resolve the leadership vacancy have stalled due to legislative deadlock. The People’s Assembly has repeatedly failed to establish a date for new elections because of a lack of quorum. This impasse has halted local public administration reforms; Alexei Buzu, Secretary General of the Government, stated that the amalgamation of municipalities cannot proceed until a new, functional People’s Assembly is elected. Following legislative changes to the electoral code, the electoral period for the People's Assembly officially began on August 28, 2026. The Central Electoral Commission has established a calendar that includes the formation of electoral bodies and the examination of candidate registrations. The election campaign is scheduled to start on October 16, 2026, with voting and final results expected by November 15, 2026. These reforms include transitioning the People's Assembly to a proportional representation system and mandating the creation of a Central Electoral Council for Gagauzia to operate under the coordination of the central electoral authority in Chișinău. New regulations also introduce stricter measures regarding campaign financing and the use of administrative resources. On September 4, 2026, Valentin Gaidarji, President of the Gagauzia People's Assembly and Vice President of the Home We Build Europe Party (PACE), announced his departure from the political formation. This decision followed the Central Electoral Commission's exclusion of the PACE party from the upcoming November elections.

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