Eurasia Foundation Moldova informed CoE delegation on Gagauzia governor election

The Eurasia Foundation in Moldova and its partners – the Association for Participatory Democracy ADEPT, the League for Human Rights Defense (LADOM) and the Independent Press Association informed the delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe (CLRAE) about the election of Gagauzia’s bashkan. According to a press release of the Foundation, the local experts presented their observations regarding the activity of the Central Electoral Commission from Comrat, of candidates’ campaign, the way media mirrors the elections, as well as an analyze of the electoral climate from Gagauzia. The Eurasia Foundation in Moldova launched in October the project “Free and Fair Elections of the Governor of Gagauzia” in order to adjust the electoral process to the European standards and inform the population and authorities of Moldova in what concerns the importance of free and fair elections in a democratic society. The project is financially supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Swiss International Development Agency (SIDA) and the National Endowment for Democracy, USA. The delegation of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe is visiting Moldova in order to observe the elections of the Governor of Gagauzia. Led by Susan Bolam (Great Britain, EPP), the delegation already met with Vladimir Voronin and has to meet with the representatives of the Government, Parliament, Central Electoral Commission as well as the Authorities and the Election Commission of the "GAGAUZ-Yeri" Territorial Administrative Unit. The delegation includes members from Great Britain, Holland, San Marino, Albania, Romania and Armenia. The Eurasia Foundation, ADEPT, LADOM and API will observe the elections scheduled for December 3. LADOM will perform an alternative count of votes. CLRAE will issue a press statement presenting its preliminary findings as well as the preliminary results of the observers on December 4. 4 candidates run for the office Gagauzia’s governor. According to several opinion polls, the front-runners are the present bashkan Gheorghi Tabunscic and the mayor of Ciadir Lunga, one of region’s opposition leaders, Mihail Formuzal.