In Moldova’s Gagauz region, Evgenia Gutsul, representing the opposition Shor party, has been declared the winner in the regional presidency race following a runoff. The official results reflected by the Gagauz Central Election Commission show Gutsul gathering a strong plurality of votes. The initial tallies indicate she received 27,376 votes, while her opponent, Grigory Uzun, who stood as the Moldova Socialist Party candidate, trailed with 24,913 votes. The formal closing of ballot boxes and the completion of vote counting were confirmed by the region’s former central election official, Elena Gümüşlü, who noted that vote casting had concluded and that polling proceeded as scheduled.
Acknowledging the participation level, Yana Kovalenko, who previously chaired the Gagauzia Central Election Commission, stated that turnout for the head of the Gagauz Autonomous Region election exceeded 35 percent. This rate was described as sufficient to validate the election outcome under local rules and indicates a recognized mandate for the winner.
The campaign culminated on May 14 with a runoff contest between two leading figures: Evgenia Gutsul and Grigory Uzun. Gutsul represented the opposition Shor party, while Uzun ran as the candidate from the Moldova Socialist Party. The day brought a clear moment of decision for voters in the Gagauz Yeri region, marking a decisive turn in local leadership and future regional policy direction.