Elections for People’s Assembly of Gagauzia to take place on November 15; Moldovan Central Electoral Commission approves electoral calendar

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) today established the main deadlines and procedures for organizing the elections for the People’s Assembly of the Gagauz Territorial Administrative Unit (UTA Gagauzia), scheduled for November 15, 2026.

During a public meeting held in Chisinau, CEC members examined and approved the electoral timetable, a document comprising 13 chapters and 118 activities necessary for the organization and conduct of the elections.

Among the first deadlines set, there is the establishment of the Gagauzia Central Electoral Council by August 28, while first-level district electoral councils are to be established by September 16. An important deadline for electoral contenders is October 6, the final date for submitting the documents required for candidates’ registration. The actual electoral campaign will start on October 16.

While examining the electoral timetable, a CEC member, Tatiana Barbaros proposed that, in official documents, the general phrase “regional elections” be replaced with the exact wording “elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia.” The proposal was justified by the need for a more precise formulation, since the November 15 elections do not concern the position of Governor (Bashkan) of Gagauzia.

However, the amendment was not approved. Three CEC members voted in favour, two voted against, and three abstained.

The meeting also included technical and legal discussions regarding the application of more normative acts adopted at the regional level.

CEC member Vadim Filipov drew attention to the need for the Commission’s actions to be aligned with the moment when the relevant legislation enters into force. Since the regional normative act had been officially published only on the afternoon of August 26, the CEC ordered a 20-minute technical break for additional checks and consultations.

CEC Chair Angela Caraman stressed that all stages of the electoral process must comply with the legal framework.

“The electoral process must be conducted in strict compliance with legal norms. The debates and rigorous verifications during this meeting, including the consultation break regarding the recently published regulations, show our absolute commitment to ensuring legality, clarity and precision in organizing the elections,” Caraman said.

At the same meeting, the CEC also established the place and schedule for receiving documents for the registration of electoral blocs in the regional elections. They may be submitted between August 28 and October 6, 2026 at the Central Electoral Commission headquarters, located at: Chișinău municipality, 119 Vasile Alecsandri Street, office 201 (anteroom), according to the following schedule: 28 August – 5 October 2026, 09:00 – 16:00 (lunch break: 12:00 – 13:00); 6 October 2026 (last day), 09:00 – 17:00 (lunch break: 12:00 – 13:00).

The electoral campaign for the elections to the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia will start on October 16, 2026.

Today, 26 August 2026, the Law No. 192/2026 amending the Electoral Code No. 325/2022 was published in the Official Journal No. 394–397. The new regulations ensure the integration of regional elections into the national electoral system and strengthen the role of the Central Electoral Commission in guaranteeing their organization and conduct.

The People’s Assembly of Gagauzia consists of 35 deputies directly elected by citizens for a four-year term. The Assembly is the legislative authority of the autonomy and has powers in adopting local normative acts, approving the budget, setting development programmes and exercising oversight over the executive authorities.