Gagauzia elects its Governor on Sunday

The residents of Moldova’s Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia will elect their Bashkan (Governor) on December 12. Three persons are ruining for the post – current Governor Mihail Formuzal, who is standing as an independent, Mayor of Comrat municipality Nicolai Dudoglo, who is also an independent, and MP Irina Vlah, who is representing the Communists Party, Info-Prim Neo reports. For the elections to be validated, the voter turnout in the first round should be at least 50%, while in the second round – at least one third. The candidate who polls most of the votes becomes the winner. The candidate for the Governor of Gagauzia must be a citizen of Moldova older than 35, and know the Gagauz language. The four-year term in office of Mihail Formuzal expires on December 29. On Friday, December 10, the Central Election Commission authorized a number of international observers to monitor the election of the Governor of Gagauzia. They represent the Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the Moldova Office of the International Republican Institute, the United States Embassy and the Turkish Embassy. The elections in Gagauzia will take place two weeks after the November 28 early legislative elections. The same day, the inhabitants of the Transnistrian region will elect the local Supreme Soviet.