Free, fair and credible elections depend on the professionalism, integrity and preparedness of electoral officials. In the context of the regional elections for the People’s Assembly and the Governor (Bashkan) of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia, scheduled for 15 November 2026, the Council of Europe supported a series of training activities to strengthen electoral bodies capacity to organise the elections.

As part of its assistance, the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training (CICDE), organised 11 training sessions for members of electoral management bodies between 17 September and 25 October 2026. The sessions took place in Comrat, Ceadîr-Lunga and Vulcănești and reached 323 participants: 14 members of the Central Electoral Council of Gagauzia, 25 members of the three first-level District Electoral Councils, and 284 members of 67 Precinct Electoral Bureaus.

Participants learned the new regulations and working procedures, the preparation and management of electoral documentation, the duties of electoral officials, and the principles of integrity and impartiality. The sessions also covered candidate registration, campaign finance monitoring, polling-station accessibility, cooperation with authorised observers, and procedures for handling electoral complaints and addressing violations.

 These training activities were particularly important because, for the first time, the regional elections are being organised under the Electoral Code of the Republic of Moldova, as amended accordingly on 26 August 2026. Previously, regional elections were conducted under the Gagauz Electoral Code, which is no longer in force.

The event was carried out as part of the project ”Improving Electoral Practice in the Republic of Moldova (IEPRM) 2025-2028”, part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2025-2028, and in cooperation with CICDE.