Maia Sandu said that authorities in Chisinau are working with local representatives from Gagauzia to identify solutions that ensure free and fair elections in the autonomy. She noted that recent meetings with members of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia and local mayors focused on guaranteeing the integrity of the electoral process.
“The main topic was finding solutions to organize free and fair elections. I want to emphasize that our interest is to ensure that the people of Gagauzia decide who becomes members of the People’s Assembly, not external forces,” Maia Sandu said.
According to the president, representatives of the People’s Assembly and local administrations agreed to cooperate with state institutions responsible for organizing elections in order to develop concrete solutions.
Maia Sandu, together with Igor Grosu, held consultations with mayors from the region and members of the regional legislature amid a deadlock in organizing elections.
The People’s Assembly adopted a declaration on April 22 urging central authorities not to block electoral processes in the region. It also sent a letter to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, requesting his intervention in the dispute between Comrat and Chisinau.
On December 16, 2025, the People’s Assembly scheduled elections for March 22, but authorities canceled them after the government’s representative challenged the decision in court, arguing that only the national institution can use the name “Central Electoral Commission.” The Supreme Court of Justice of Moldova upheld the challenge.
On March 17, the Gagauz legislature set a new election date—June 21—but the government’s representative in Comrat also challenged this decision, and the court is currently reviewing it.
The mandate of the People’s Assembly expired in November 2025. Since authorities have not elected a new legislature, the current body operates with limited powers.