Most of fresh Gagauz MPs are independent

The Gagauz people have elected their deputies in the People’s Assembly in 18 constituencies out of 33, show preliminary results of the first round, held on March 16. The president of the Comrat-based Central Electoral Commission, Piotr Ivanov, has told Info-Prim Neo that, of those 18 local parliamentarians elected, three are Communists, two -- Democrats and one represents the Ravnopravie social-political Movement. The rest of 12 elected MPs are independent. According to Piotr Ivanov, the turnout exceeded 60%, on average. The most active voters live, as a rule, in rural areas, some villages recording a presence of over 80% at ballot boxes. The runoff is scheduled to take place in two weeks, on March 30. 165 candidates, of whom 81 independents, have competed for those 35 deputy seats in the Gagauz local legislature.