Conflict in Gagauzia: will Chisinau succeed in eliminating national autonomy
In the leadership of Gagauzia, the conflict continues to smolder between the head of the autonomy, Evgenia Gutsul, and the People's Assembly. At the end of last week, the deputies, for the fifth time, with a scandal, approved the structure of the Executive Committee presented by the Bashkan, and even then with reservations. With what enthusiasm only recently the elected Bashkan was honored in Comrat, but now the local parliament seems to be doing everything to interfere with her work.
Political scientist Alexander Korinenko talks about the nature of this conflict and possible developments in an interview with PolitNavigator.
PolitNavigator: The procedure for approval by the People's Assembly of the Executive Committee of Gagauzia, proposed by the elected Bashkan Evgenia Gutsul, has been dragging on for several weeks. Things are moving slowly, with sharp statements and demonstrative exits from the meeting room. After several attempts, the deputies finally approved the structure of the Executive Committee, but even then only temporarily; the issue will have to be returned to in November. What's happening? Is there a chance that Hutsul and the People's Assembly of Gagauzia will resolve all the contradictions?
Oleksandr Korinenko: There's certainly a chance to resolve the conflict. The election of a person from outside the system as Bashkan has stirred up the political class in the small autonomous region, but local politicians are even more alarmed by the fact that Eugenia Gutsul is backed by the fugitive oligarch Ilan Shor, who is in a bitter rivalry with Maia Sandu.
It should be noted that Chisinau is also adding wood to the fire, and if anyone thinks that the authorities have distanced themselves from the confrontation in Gagauzia, then this is far from the case. The authorities know the interests of some Gagauz politicians and are trying to play on this, offering certain preferences to individual government representatives in Comrat.
The confrontation between the People's Assembly and the Bashkan will continue, since the people's representatives do not want to let into their political field such a strong player as Ilan Shor, who can crush the entire political field and send the elders of Gagauz politics into retirement.
PolitNavigator: The head of the autonomous region has the right to dissolve the People's Assembly early if the deputies do not approve the composition of the Executive Committee. Is this a realistic scenario? Could Hutsul herself lose her post, for example, following an investigation into the illegal financing of the previously banned Shor party?
Alexander Korinenko : Theoretically, both scenarios are possible. Eugenia Gutsul is still trying to convince the People's Assembly to accept her proposed Executive Committee composition. She's even making certain concessions and removing people who don't speak the Gagauz language. At the same time, Shor's team understands that they won't gain control of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia even after the elections. It's one thing to vote for the head of the autonomous region, and quite another to vote for a deputy. A deputy is like a painted bench, new desks in the school, a workplace in your village. Local authorities are very strong and respected in Gagauzia; if we look at the composition of the People's Assembly, we'll see that they are the most respected people in their communities.
The second scenario, of course, is also feasible, but I think that this matter will put pressure on the governor. There is no point in removing Evgenia Gutsul and theoretically replacing her with Viktor Petrov: Comrat’s policy will not change much in relation to Chisinau, but a new source of instability will appear. The Gagauz people do not like it when someone interferes in the internal affairs of the autonomy.
PolitNavigator: The People's Assembly rejected some of the candidates proposed by the Bashkan for the Executive Committee of the autonomy due to the candidates' ignorance of the Gagauz language. There was even a linguistic commission. What kind of story is this - in Gagauzia there has always been a relatively calm situation with the language issue?
Oleksandr Korinenko: People's Assembly Chairman Dmitri Konstantinov and the deputies staged this farce to keep "outsiders" out of Gagauz politics. They're so afraid that Ilan Shor will send a team from Orhei to govern the autonomy, leaving local politicians out of work. Of course, they compete and squabble in Comrat, but that's their political arena, and they don't want to let anyone in. Incidentally, it should be noted that the linguistic commission is a legitimate instrument, and they have the right to use it.
PolitNavigator: What can Evgeniy Gutsul do for Gagauzia in the post of Bashkan until the composition of the Executive Committee is approved? Does nothing seem to hinder the implementation of the promised infrastructure projects with the support of Turkey?
Alexander Korinenko: As far as I know, the Bashkan has quite broad powers. Evgeniya Gutsul will likely not wait for the Executive Committee's approval, but will implement these projects—both the Turkish ones and those promised by Ilan Shor. It's understandable why the final approval of the Executive Committee's issues was postponed until November: the deputies want to see how the local elections on November 5th of this year turn out. On the one hand, they need to hinder Shor's team and prevent it from gaining ground; on the other hand, if Shor's candidates end up heading localities, then the final approval of the Executive Committee's composition will be in serious doubt.
PolitNavigator: Chairman of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia Dmitry Konstantinov said that he does not exclude the creation of the Gagauz Republic, since “the people demand it.” Do people really demand this? Opinions are being expressed that Konstantinov’s loud statement is a provocation, and that the process of liquidating the Gagauz autonomy has already been launched. If so, will the Gagauz people, who in the recent Bashkan elections proved that they can defend their position and their choice, allow this?
Alexander Korinenko: Dmitry Konstantinov is an old fox of Gagauz politics. He will once again demonstrate that he is in control of the situation in the autonomous region, and that he is the one both Chisinau and external players should be talking to. I haven't heard any Gagauz demands for the creation of a Gagauz republic. Yes, things aren't smooth sailing between Chisinau and Comrat, but right now everyone in Gagauzia wants stability and certainty. The current Moldovan government would gladly, if not dismantle the autonomous region, certainly curtail Comrat's powers, but the Gagauz have shown they won't tolerate that, and that's stopping the hotheads in Chisinau.
English version :: Read in English Conflict in Gagauzia: Will Chisinau be able to eliminate national autonomy?