GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION IN GAGAUZIA SCHEDULED FOR MAY 19

The ordinary election of Bashkan [governor] of the southern Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia has been scheduled for May 19, 2019, the Gagauzia Popular Assembly [legislature] decided on Friday.

At the GPA plenary meeting held today, a majority of deputies (18 of 35) voted against the initiative of Bashkan Irina Vlah who had proposed to set the election date for February 17.

Before the voting, deputy Sergey Chernev, an ardent supporter of the ruling Democratic Party, suggested holding the election “in a quiet atmosphere after the spring holidays” [Easter, Remembrance Day, May Day, Victory Day].

“There has been so much debate about the date of February 17. I guess we should avoid such speculations because town and village mayors are being heavily pressed on. The clergy are saying that the election should be held before the Easter Fast. But I suggest holding the election in the second half of May”, said Chernev.

GPA Deputy Speaker Alexander Suhodolsky said Irina Vlah’s initiative was good and timely, “and it should be necessarily supported”.

A categorical disagreement was voiced by the other Deputy Speaker, Alexander Tarnavsky, who stated that the holding of the gubernatorial election one week before the all-Moldovan parliamentary election can confuse voters. He referred to the recent deplorable history, when the Moldovan presidential election in late 2016 was held almost in parallel with the election to the Gagauzia Popular Assembly, “when there was a mess in the minds of many voters, particularly the elderly, and they confused all the candidates’ names and election programs”.

Deputy Sergiu Cimpoies suggested holding the gubernatorial election on January 27, which date would be quite far from the Moldovan parliamentary election and would give enough time for a second round, if need be.

Eventually, 18 deputies supported the date of May 19, and 10 voted against it.