No funds earmarked for elections in Gagauzia, Governor says

Despite the repeated appeals to the central authorities, no finances were allocated for the elections of the Gagauz People’s Assembly, Governor Mihail Formuzal stated during a meeting with the chairman of the Comrat-based Central Election Commission (CEC), Piotr Ivanov, a communique from the governor’s press service says. The governor asserted that he made several requests to the Central Electoral Commission in Chisinau and the Ministry of Finance, he held discussions with the president and the speaker on the issue, but no finances were provided for in the 2008 State Budget for the elections in Gagauzia. Formuzal announced that he will address the topic at a Government meeting on February 13. For his part, Chairman of the Comrat CEC, Piotr Ivanov, stated that the lack of a guarantee in this regard is a negative factor for the activity of the CEC. 131 candidates have submitted documents for the legislative elections held on March 16. It is estimated that, on average, there will be 4 candidates competing for one mandate.