People’s Assembly of Gagauzia must have full mandate

CHISINAU, August 6 /MOLDPRES/- Organizing elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia is necessary so that the autonomy can have a legislative institution with a full mandate, President Maia Sandu said. The head of state criticized the postponement of the ballot and underlined that the current People’s Assembly can no longer take certain important decisions for the development of the region.

“I believe it is not serious that the elections have been postponed for so long. People need a People’s Assembly; the mandate of the current People’s Assembly has expired. This People’s Assembly does not have full powers to approve decisions. For example, regarding the local public administration reform, they cannot move forward with voluntary amalgamation in order to obtain additional resources for development. Because this People’s Assembly does not have the right to approve voluntary amalgamation,” Maia Sandu said on Jurnal TV.

Referring to the amendments prepared to the Electoral Code for the elections in the autonomy, Maia Sandu mentioned that, in the future, a transition to a proportional system is proposed, but for this year’s ballot the mixed system will be maintained.

“Parliament has announced amendments to the Electoral Code. These amendments do not dramatically change things in the future. At the next elections, a transition to the proportional system is proposed. For now, the mixed system will be used. For a significant change, I think it is important to send the law to the Venice Commission, so that there are no questions. It is important that people have time to prepare. Some people in the autonomy said that they are not ready for this system because they have not created political parties. And in the proportional system, of course, independent candidates can also participate, but it is a system that may be more attractive for political parties. In a few months they cannot manage to create parties. So here we understood the argument and decided to follow the usual path, but with elements stemming from the Constitutional Court’s decision, so that the elections are free and fair,” Maia Sandu explained.

Maia Sandu acknowledged that organizing the ballot will be a complex task for the Central Electoral Commission, given the large number of constituencies and the need to verify the integrity of candidates and compliance with campaign rules.

On July 30, Parliament approved in the first reading amendments to the Electoral Code, which set new rules for organizing elections in the Territorial Autonomous Unit of Gagauzia, introduce the legal framework for voting by mail and strengthen electoral administration mechanisms. The legislative initiative aims to align electoral legislation with European standards, develop modern mechanisms for exercising the right to vote and implement Constitutional Court Decision No. 8 of July 9, 2026, by which Parliament was obliged to regulate by organic law the organization and conduct of elections in the autonomy.

These amendments establish the mechanism for setting up the central electoral body of Gagauzia, which will be formed in accordance with the procedures applied to the formation of electoral councils throughout the country. Two members of the Electoral Council of Gagauzia will be proposed by the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, two members by the court, and political parties represented in Parliament will have the right to nominate one member each.

On Wednesday, August 5, the authors of the draft law amending Electoral Code No. 280/2026 organized two rounds of public consultations on the legislative initiative. One took place in Parliament, and the second was held in the hall of the State University in Comrat, in order to facilitate the participation of as many interested stakeholders from across the country as possible.