(MENAFN) On Sunday, voters in Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region headed to the polls for the second round of a gubernatorial election to elect the region's new governor. The first round, which took place on April 30, saw none of the candidates receive more than 50 percent of the votes, leading to a run-off election. The current governor, Irina Vlah, has served two four-year terms and is therefore ineligible to run again.
More than 92,000 eligible voters are expected to participate in the election, which is being held in 65 electoral centers throughout the Gagauz Autonomous Region. The governor of Gagauzia is also a permanent member of the Moldovan government, making this election a crucial one for the region and the country as a whole.
The two remaining candidates in the election are Evgheniya Gutsul and Grigorii Uzun. Gutsul, who is the candidate of the pro-Russian Shor party, received 26.47 percent of the vote in the first round, while Uzun, who is supported by the Socialist Party led by former President Igor Dodon, received 26.40%. The outcome of the election is expected to be closely contested between these two candidates.
Notably, Moldova's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), founded by President Maia Sandu, did not nominate a candidate in the election and has not voiced support for any candidate. This decision could have significant implications for the election's outcome and for the relationship between the Gagauzia region and the Moldovan government.
Gagauzia is an autonomous region in Moldova with a population of approximately 120,000 Gagauz people, who are an Orthodox Christian, Turkic community that speaks Gagauz Turkish. The outcome of the gubernatorial election will have important implications for the region's political future and its relationship with the rest of Moldova.
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