If a candidate has a pro-Russian agenda and slogans in Gagauzia, while another convincing candidate will say that his coming to power will ensure the building of roads or enterprises, the Gagauz people will support the economic progress and what influences their life to the better, Veaceslav Craciun, regionalism-related problems, political processes in ATU Gagauzia, the region’s relations with the central authorities of the Republic of Moldova, stated in IPN’s public debate “Particularities of voting in geographical areas and territorial-administrative units of the Republic of Moldova, including in the Transnistrian region and ATU Gagauzia.
According to the expert, in the discussions the politicians have in Gagauzia, Russia is not the key issue. Without giving names, he said that some of the politicians come to work with the voters, while others come and talk about the fight against corruption one month before the elections and that’s all. “This does not match the most important interests of the people,” he stated.
Veaceslav Crăciun noted a particular candidate for President holds the monopoly on this region and campaigns actively there. His main opponent started to campaign in the region a month ago. The favorite will gain this ground and will keep it under control. The Gagauz people vote for a political party not because they are this party’s fans, but because this party made effort to understand the local needs.
In another development, Veaceslav Craciun said Moldova is at the intersection of foreign geopolitical interests and there is a visible influence on Moldova and these have particular expectations of Moldova, including Moscow and Bucharest. “I would not say that a particular influence is good, while another one is risky. In such a situation, any influence from outside aimed at imposing a foreign strategy is not good,” he noted.
The expert considers Moldova is different from a number of viewpoints and this is seen in the voting preferences of its regions. But the political elite should build bridges and should find common interests with the local communities.
The public debate “Particularities of voting in geographical areas and territorial-administrative units of the Republic of Moldova, including in the Transnistrian region and ATU Gagauzia: motives and effects” was the fifth installment of the electoral series “We and the President: who elects who, who represents who” that is supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
