The winner of the 2023 Gagauz gubernatorial elections held between 30 April and 14 May 2023 was Yevgenia Gutsul. Gutsul is a new person in the politics of the territory of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, a part of the Republic of Moldova. The Governor of Gagauzia has one of the highest positions in the country, as has the position of a member of the government ex-oficio.
However, the new Governor represents a political party that conflicts with the actual government of Chișinău. What is more, Gutsul, who will serve a 4-year term, has different views concerning the position of the country on several issues: the EU accession, the war in Ukraine, and energy independence.
Consequently, the government of Moldova and President Maia Sandu are in open dispute with the new authorities of Gagauzia. As Gutsul told European Interest in an interview in September 2023, immediately after her victory, without explanation, the government deprived the Gagauzia budget of 500 million lei (26 million euros).
On Tuesday, 19 December, Yevgenia Gutsul spoke to journalists in Brussels, just a week after the EU had agreed in record time to open the accession procedure with Moldova.
She explained her political views on the EU accession process, her ties with Russia, her firm commitment to neutrality, and her conflict with President Sandu.
She also explained the potential of the relations between Gagauzia and Turkey, as the local Gagauz people are a Turkic-speaking, primarily Orthodox ethnic group.
A severe punishment by the government
Gutsul accused the Moldovan government of pursuing “a blatantly hostile stance towards Gagauzia”.
“They are trying to silence us, and the EU delegation in the country seems to choose to ignore these problems,” she added, presenting her part of the story.
“The central authorities, including the president, put up all kinds of obstacles. They tried not to have the victory approved, attempted to arrest party activists and put a lot of pressure on me after the election”, suggesting that her victory five months ago “came from simple citizens, stable, grassroots support and was a protest against the central authorities”.
Gutsul said the government cut the region’s revenue by €7 million, threatening regional social programmes, including assistance to vulnerable groups such as older people and children.
This is particularly important for the region, as it faces an economic crisis with high poverty levels. While prices have grown by 36%, making food and basic supplies increasingly expensive, pensions have risen by only 18%. In addition, central authorities are trying to impede gas supplies to the region; consequently, energy poverty is rising.
The Governor of Gagauzia stated that when the public elected her five months ago, people had high hopes for her to make Gagauzia a prosperous region. Her top priority is to bring positive change in the citizens’ lives and improve their living standards.
Gutsul said he wants good relations with the central government, suggesting that Gagauz authorities are always ready for compromise and proposing negotiations to find common points of interest.
Will Moldova’s EU accession pass through a referendum?
The recent decision of the EU to grant accession talks to Moldova was among the most discussed issues during the press conference.
The Governor of Gagauzia didn’t count out the possibility of a referendum about Moldova’s accession to the EU. Gutsul also expressed concern about Moldova’s independence after becoming a member of the EU.
Journalists noted that the EU has provided significant financial support to Gagauzia.
In September, Gutsul stated in an interview with European Interest that Gagauzia should be treated as something other than a playing field for a competition to see who can provide more or less assistance. While he is grateful for any help, he believes political agendas should not be concealed behind them. According to Gutsul, Gagauzia needs to develop mutually beneficial economic and cultural relationships with countries and peoples with a shared history and geographical location without becoming overly reliant on them.
Gagauzia wants neutrality
Suggesting that the region’s proximity to the Ukrainian border calls for neutrality, Gutsul underlined: “We are not necessarily pro-Russian. We are pro-Moldovan and want to be friends with those from all over the world, including the EU”, instead suggesting that Gagauzia wants warm and friendly relations with everyone, adding that she stands ready to meet with the EU representatives.
She also noted that the region’s border was close “to where a war and a horrible conflict is raging” and that “Moldova has received tens of thousands of refugees from Ukraine.”
“I adhere to the principle of neutrality,” told European Interest in September.
Gutsul and her party are categorically against Moldova’s involvement in this conflict on either side, in any form, “except for providing support to people fleeing from military actions”.
“We do not need a war on Moldova’s borders,” she emphasised.
“Our main aim is to preserve peace, but Moldova should remain neutral,” Gutsul said.
Turkey has supported Gagauzia for over 30 years.
On European Interest’s question about the region’s relations with Turkey today and how Gutsul sees the potential for future economic and political cooperation and investments from Turkey, the Governor suggested that “it is tough to overestimate the support that Turkey has given us, over 30 years.
The Gagauz community and the Turkish population have common historical routes.
“In 1994, when we had a difference of opinion between the Gagauz and the Republic of Moldova central cities – between Conrad and Chișinău, the then Turkish president Süleyman Demirel came to Gagauzia and helped us to overcome the lack of understanding between the two. We managed to do this without bloodshed and serious conflicts. Turkey continues to help us, assuring our rights, powers and interests”.
Gutsul also emphasised Turkish support in infrastructures.
“In the 1990s, we had problems with drinking water supply, and the Turkish government helped us engineer the required water supply networks”.
The infrastructure assisted by Turkey includes the construction of roads and kindergartens; they have also built an industrial college and a small stadium.
“This is why we assess the relations with Turkey as of continuous importance, and this is why my first overseas visit as a governor was to Turkey,” noted Gutsul.
“During my first visit there and my meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, we agreed that we should develop the relations between our territories and new projects should be suggested so that they would help us keep Gagauz traditions and the sustainability of the Gagauz language”.
