Threshold in Gagauz elections passed

The voter turnout in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia was 56.9% so that the elections for the region’s Governor can be considered valid, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to the last results announced by the Gagauz election commission, current Governor Mihai Formuzal polled 36% of the vote, the mayor of Comrat Nicolai Dudoglo – over 32%, while the Communist candidate Irina Vlah – 31%. If none of the candidates win more than a half of the vote, the second round of voting will be held in two weeks. The leading two candidates will compete in this round. According to www.gagauzinfo.md, serious violations of the electoral legislation were identified in the December 12 elections. The additional voter lists at the polling places in Ceadar-Lunga town contained about 50 persons early in the day, while towards evening more than 1,000 people. Persons were campaigning near polling places. The ballot boxes in a village were opened with delay. Under the electoral legislation of Gagauzia, the elections for the Governor are not validated if the voter turnout in the first round is less than 50%, while in the second round less than one third.