Developments of the institutional crisis in the Găgăuzia region

This analytical note aims to clarify the legal and administrative causes of the institutional crisis in Găgăuzia region, the obstacles hindering a resolution and the solutions identified by the competent national institutions. The note does not separately analyze the political determinants of the crisis, although they are referenced where they influence the behavior of the actors involved.

The structure of the note is organized into five sections. Section I presents the general context of the crisis. Section II describes the mechanisms of the electoral deadlock: the structural causes, the chronology of the dispute between the People’s Assembly of Găgăuzia (PAG) and the Comrat Territorial Office of the State Chancellery and the emergence of the second round of judicial conflict. Section III analyzes the PAG’s efforts to overcome the impasse and the solutions proposed by the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Moldova (CEC) - including three distinct scenarios, with varying degrees of legitimacy and political risk. Section IV examines developments in the current phase of the crisis: the PAG’s appeal to international organizations, the referral to the Constitutional Court by the Ministry of Justice and the persistence of the deadlock despite the resumption of parliamentary dialogue. Section V formulates conclusions regarding the nature, deepening and risk of the institutional crisis evolving into a profound political crisis, with consequences extending beyond the regional electoral framework.

This product was developed by the ADEPT Association, with the support of “Strengthening Democratic Resilience in Moldova” project, implemented by UNDP Moldova and funded by Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The content of this material belongs to the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations, including UNDP, its member states, or the donors.