The People’s Assembly of Gagauzia approved on Monday proposals to the draft amendment of the Electoral Code elaborated by the Parliament. One of the main proposals of the APG is the exclusion from the Electoral Code of the notion of “camouflaged independent candidate”, reports the IPN correspondent from Gagauzia.

Deputies from Comrat believe that such a formulation as “disguised independent candidate” can create “legal uncertainty, because the law should not contain notions that allow a broad interpretation and a subjective assessment of election participants”. In their opinion, any violations should be established by concrete norms, such as rules regarding financing, electoral agitation, and candidate reporting.

Also, the deputies propose clarifying the restrictions for the representatives of the authorities in the electoral process. The list of officials with special requirements is expected to include the Governor of Gagauzia, members of the Executive Committee, and the leaders of its subdivisions.

A separate chapter of amendments refers to the responsibilities of the Central Electoral Commission. APG proposes to establish the CEC’s right to provide assistance and to exercise supervision over the organization and conduct of regional elections, as well as to make decisions regarding the activities of electoral bodies.

The proposals also target the procedure for nominating independent candidates. In the case of elections for the position of Governor of Gagauzia and for the deputies of the People’s Assembly, it is proposed that the verification of signatures supporting the candidates should be assigned to the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia. In the case of regional elections, the collection of signatures would be allowed in any locality within the region.

The deputies from Comrat propose that it be stipulated that the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia is an independent collegial body, which operates on the principles of impartiality and political neutrality.

The proposals of the People’s Assembly were elaborated in the context of changing the legal framework regarding the organization of elections in Gagauzia, following the decision of the Constitutional Court on July 9. The Court declared unconstitutional several provisions of the law, which targeted the formation of the regional electoral body and the participation of the People’s Assembly in approving its composition.