Gagauz governor refuses to promulgate amendments to Electoral Code

Chisinau, 27 March /MOLDPRES/- Governor of Gagauzia Irina Vlah did not promulgate the amendments to the Electoral Code of autonomy, operated by the People's Assembly at the 18 March meeting, and returned the documents of the local MPs, press service of Comrat administration has reported.

The letter to head of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia Vladimir Cissa by the governor includes several procedural violations committed by MPs on amendments. Among them, Vlah noted that the draft decision was not subject to public consultations and was not submitted for consultation to persons entitled to legislative initiatives.

The decision not to promulgate the amendments to the Electoral Code was taken following a meeting with citizens held late last week in Congaz village.

Representatives of APG, convened in two meetings – on 18 March, postponed Bashkan elections from 19 May to 30 June. At the first meeting, they operated amendments to the Electoral Code of autonomy, which provide for holding of elections according to the regional register of voters, constituted under the national one. Also, elections will be considered valid if they record a voting turnout of no less than 50% of voters enrolled in the lists. So far, turnout had to be at least one-third of voters.

Under the Regulation of Gagauzia, the governor had to sign the amendments. Vlah refused to do so, claiming she had insufficient time to consider the Assembly’s decisions.

Given that it has been previously announced that the electoral institution of autonomy would begin registration of candidates on 20 March, the MPs decided to postpone the election date from 19 May to 30 June, so that the Bashkan be able to review decisions and sign them. In a week, Vlah refused to promulgate the document, describing the violations as “impossible to be corrected at a re-examination”.