Incumbent Irina Vlah is now officially allowed to start her re-election campaign after the Comrat electoral commission today registered her as an independent candidate.
Maria Croitor, deputy chair of the autonomy’s elections body, has told IPN Irina Vlah’s application was approved following a successful Gagauz language exam. He registration as an electoral contender formally puts Vlah’s incumbency on pause.
So far, three other contenders have announced their bids. Independent Vasili Aladov, businessman Mihail Vlah, and Serghei Cimpoies, a member of the current Gagauz parliament, are yet to return their endorsement lists to the electoral body as soon as they get enough signatures on them.
Gubernatorial hopefuls may apply for registration until May 25 or until May 30 if they run independently.
This year’s gubernatorial election in Gagauzia was originally slated for May 19, but has been rescheduled for June 30 by the autonomy’s parliament in a move criticized by Vlah as an attempt to delay her inevitable re-election.
