Moldovan president has meeting with members of People’s Assembly of Gagauzia

President Maia Sandu, together with representatives of the parliament and the Central Electoral Commission, met today with members of the People’s Assembly (local legislative body) of Gagauzia, in the context of implementing the Constitutional Court’s Decision on the competences of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia (UTA Gagauzia), as well as the necessary steps for organizing elections in the autonomy. The Constitutional Court determined that the electoral system must be uniform throughout the entire territory of the country and approved by parliament through an organic law, given that Moldova is a unitary state.

The solution for organizing elections in the autonomy, previously discussed and agreed upon within the joint working group with the participation of representatives of the Presidency, Parliament, the People’s Assembly, and the Central Electoral Commission, but not validated by a plenary vote of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, no longer corresponds to the legal framework established by the Court’s Decision. According to the Decision, elections in the autonomy must be organized based on the same electoral system, as well as the same principles and rules applied throughout the entire territory of the country. In the context, the sides discussed that the elections for the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia should be held according to the proportional system applied to the election of the parliament, local and district councils, with full respect for all guarantees of a free, fair, transparent and competitive electoral process. Some of the members of the People’s Assembly present at the discussions supported this proposal.

The Decision of the Constitutional Court is final, and all authorities are obliged to implement it within the limits of their competences. In this regard, it is necessary to adjust the regulatory framework, with the parliament due to register a draft law amending the Electoral Code, which is to be promoted as a matter of urgency, in order to ensure the integration of regional elections into the electoral legal framework and the organization of elections in the autonomy in next autumn in full compliance with the Court’s Decision. The application of clear and uniform rules at the next election will mean that all candidates will benefit from the same opportunities, and the inhabitants of the autonomy will be able to exercise their right to vote freely and equally, in a way that reflects their genuine will.

The discussion also highlighted that the implementation of the Constitutional Court’s Decision on the competences of the UTA Gagauzia represents an opportunity to strengthen the legal framework of the autonomy, through a clearer delimitation of competences between central authorities and the ones of the autonomy and the full application of the Law on the special legal status of Gagauzia, as well as through deeper integration of the region into the economic, social, and political life of the Republic of Moldova.

The discussions will continue with the mayors from the autonomy on July 21.