Civil Society requests that the Electoral Code that was drafted by a standing commission of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia and passed in the first reading should be reviewed as it runs counter to the Constitution and the national legislation. A number of civil society organizations issued a statement, asking reexamining the bill, IPN reports.

According to the statement, the bill proposed by the standing commission provides that the members of Moldova’s Parliament are elected by the electoral bodies of Gagauzia in cooperation with the Central Election Commission based on partnership, not hierarchical relations. The representatives of civil society say the parliamentary elections are not within the competence of Gagauzia and are regulated by the Electoral Code of Moldova.

The bill drafted in Gagauzia also regulates the local elections to choose mayors and local councilors in Gagauzia. Civil society notes that under the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia, the People’s Assembly can only announce elections in the public bodies of the autonomous region. The local elections are regulated by the Electoral Code of Moldova and are held simultaneously all over country.

The bill also stipulates that political parties and organizations registered by the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia can take part in elections. Civil society underlines that under the Law on the Special Legal Status of Gagauzia, the People’s Assembly can register public associations, except political ones. Thus, registering such organizations is not within the competence of Gagauzia.

The NGOs consider the adoption of this bill in its current form in the August 8 meeting of the People’s Assembly and its subsequent promotion by the Governor of Gagauzia will worsen the relations between Comrat and Chisinau. They draw attention to the fact that a working group consisting of civil society representatives and deputies of the People’s Assembly drafted an alternative bill that regulates the electoral sector of Gagauzia in accordance with the national legislation.

The statement was signed by the public association “Piligrim-Demo”, the European center “Pro-Europa”, the Center “Contact”, the Independent Press Association and the Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.