Elections of south Moldova autonomy's governor postponed for 30 June 2019

Chisinau, 19 March /MOLDPRES/ - The lawmakers of the People’s Assembly (local parliament -APG) from the Autonomous Territorial Unit (UTA) Gagauz-Yeri on 18 March postponed the elections of the bashkan (governor) from 19 May for 30 June 2019.    

The decision was taken at a special meeting, held on 18 March evening, after a 30-minute break following the basic meeting. At the first meeting, the APG lawmakers introduced amendments to the autonomy’s electoral code. They see the carrying out of the polls according to the regional register of voters, created based on the national one. Also, the elections will be regarded valid, if they record a voter turnout of not less than 50 per cent of the voters registered in the lists. So far, the voter turnout has been of at least one third of the electors.    

Under the Regulation of UTA Gagauz-Yeri, the bashkan was to sign these amendments. Attending the meeting, governor Irina Vlah refused to do this, invoking the insufficient period of time available to consider the Assembly’s decisions.    

Given that decision-makers have earlier said that the autonomy’s electoral institution would start the registration of candidates on 20 March, the lawmakers ruled to adjourn the date of the ballot from 19 May for 30 June, so that the bashkan manages to study the decisions and sign them.   

Sixteen MPs voted for the postponing of the polls and four ones abstained. In September 2018, Irina Vlah suggested that the elections be held on 17 February; yet, at that time, the APG lawmakers were against this proposal and set the date of 19 May.    

The governor (bashkan) is the supreme official person of the Autonomous Territorial Unit Gagauz-Yeri. All authorities of the autonomy’s public administration are subordinated to the bashkan. The elections of the governor are held once in four years.