Eight persons are competing for the office of Bashkan of Gagauzia and the candidates include contenders who earlier held this post, IPN reports.

Former Bashkans Mihail Formuzal and Dmitrii Croitor are now running independently. The former mayor of Comrat town Nicolai Dudoglo, ex-deputy of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia, is also among the candidates.

Candidate Victor Petrov is supported by the Socialist MP Vasile Bolea, not yet by the whole Party of Socialists. The PSRM announced its support for independent candidate Grigorii Uzun.

The electoral race also involves independent candidates Sergei Chernev, Sergei Cimpoieș and the Shor Party’s candidate Yevgenia Guțul.

The governor election in Gagauzia was set for April 30. The office of Bashkan is now held by Irina Vlah. She can no longer run as she holds her second consecutive term in office and cannot compete for a third term successively.