Locals in Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region vote in 2nd round of gubernatorial election

By Dmitri Chirciu

COMRAT, Moldova (AA) - People in Moldova’s autonomous Gagauzia region are voting in the second round of a gubernatorial election on Sunday to elect the region's new governor.

Voting for the second round began at 7 a.m. local time (0400GMT) after none of the candidates received more than 50% of the votes in the first round, which took place on April 30 and had a turnout of 57.8%.

More than 92,000 eligible voters are expected to go to the polls in 65 electoral centers in the Gagauz Autonomous Region to choose their governor, who is also a permanent member of the Moldovan government.

Evgheniya Gutsul and Grigorii Uzun are the remaining two candidates running in the election and the voting will end at 9 p.m. local time (1800GMT).

Gutsul, who is the candidate of the pro-Russian Shor party, had received 26.47% 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%.

Elections in the region are held due to the end of the current Gagauzia Governor Irina Vlah's second four-year term.

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.

Gagauzia is an autonomous region in Moldova with a population of approximately 120,000 Gagauz people – an Orthodox Christian, Turkic community that speaks Gagauz Turkish.