Speaker: Elections in Gagauzia must be fair

Speaker Igor Grosu says that the elections for the position of governor and for the People's Assembly of Gagauzia must be conducted fairly and transparently, and that the authorities will not tolerate attempts to bribe voters or other schemes intended to influence the election. He made the statement today after the People's Assembly of Gagauzia delegated two representatives to the future Electoral Commission of the Territorial Administrative Unit of Gagauzia.


“Yesterday, the People's Assembly of Gagauzia finally delegated two representatives to the future electoral commission of Gagauzia. I interpret this as a gesture of finally accepting and contributing to the holding of elections for the People's Assembly and for the position of governor,” Igor Grosu said.


Igor Grosu stressed that the authorities want the future representatives of the autonomy to be able to engage in dialogue with the constitutional authorities and not be under the influence of the Russian Federation or criminal groups that, he says, are used by Moscow to politically and electorally influence the region. The official warned that the authorities will not tolerate attempts to buy votes or other forms of electoral corruption.


“What we want, both in the case of the Assembly and in the case of the Bashkan's office, is for there to be people with whom we can interact, who are not under the influence of the Russian Federation and the criminal groups used by the Russian Federation, which have managed to corrupt this region electorally. Obviously, no scheme, no attempt to bring money, buy votes or bribe people will be tolerated. In this regard, I urge them not even to try, but to focus on a fair and honest electoral campaign, to go to the people and talk to them,” he said.


He anticipated that during the electoral period, the same methods of influence that he attributes to the Russian Federation and criminal groups could be used, including attempts at corruption, manipulation and discouraging participation in the elections.


“I believe that the arsenal used by the Russian Federation and the criminal group will be the same: attempts to corrupt and manipulate, to call people from one side to another, with some urging citizens not to participate and others telling someone not to run. But the fact that the Assembly has already delegated the first two candidates to the commission and that candidates are announcing their intention to run is already a good thing. The process has begun,” Igor Grosu concluded.


According to the official, the fact that several candidates have announced their intention to participate in the election is a positive signal. He called on potential electoral competitors to conduct their campaigns outside the Parliament building.

Igor Grosu said that the decision on whether the Party of Action and Solidarity will participate with a candidate in the elections in Gagauzia will be made within the party and announced publicly within the deadlines established by law.

The elections for the position of Governor of Gagauzia and for the 35 members of the autonomy's People's Assembly will take place on November 15, 2026. The Central Electoral Commission set this date for both elections after the People's Assembly failed to adopt, within the legal deadline, a decision on the date of the Bashkan election.

The electoral period for the elections to the People's Assembly began on August 28, while the period for the Bashkan election began on September 3. According to the electoral calendar, documents for registering candidates may be submitted by October 6, and the electoral campaign for governor will begin on October 16.

Intentions to run have already begun to be announced in the region, and the Central Electoral Commission has informed political parties and potential candidates about the rules and procedures of the election. On September 9, in Comrat, the Central Electoral Commission organized an information and dialogue session with electoral stakeholders and representatives of local authorities.

The Central Electoral Commission also announced that 37 political parties are entitled to participate in the elections in Gagauzia.