The People’s Assembly of Gagauzia approved on Monday a set of proposals regarding the draft amendments to the Electoral Code prepared by the Parliament. Regional lawmakers are requesting the removal of the term “camouflaged independent candidate” from the draft legislation.
According to lawmakers from Comrat, the wording could create “legal uncertainty” because legislation should not include concepts that allow broad interpretation or subjective assessments of election participants, IPN reports.
They argue that any violations should be regulated through clear legal provisions, including rules on campaign financing, electoral campaigning, and candidate reporting obligations.
The People’s Assembly also requested clarifications regarding restrictions imposed on local officials during the electoral process. These provisions concern, among others, the powers of the Bashkan of Gagauzia, members of the Executive Committee, and heads of its subdivisions.
Regional lawmakers further proposed that the new Electoral Code explicitly establish the right of the Central Electoral Commission to provide assistance and supervision in organizing and conducting regional elections, as well as to adopt decisions regarding the activity of electoral bodies.
Proposals Regarding Independent Candidates
The proposals also address the procedure for registering independent candidates.
For elections to the position of Bashkan of Gagauzia and for members of the People’s Assembly, Comrat lawmakers suggest that the verification of supporting signatures should be carried out by the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia.
For regional elections, they propose allowing candidates to collect supporting signatures in any locality within the autonomous region.
The lawmakers also want the Electoral Code to define the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia as an independent collegial body operating according to the principles of impartiality and political neutrality.
The proposals were developed amid changes to the legal framework governing elections in Gagauzia following the decision of the Constitutional Court on July 9, which limited the role of local authorities in organizing elections.
The Court declared several provisions of the law unconstitutional, including those related to the formation of the regional electoral body and the participation of the People’s Assembly in approving its composition.