Irina Vlah victorious in elections of Gagauzia head
CHISINAU. March 23 (Interfax) - Irina Vlah is winning the governor election in Gagauzia, an autonomous region of Moldova, with over 50% of votes cast on March 22.
Incumbent head of the republic, Mihail Formuzal, told Interfax on Monday morning that votes had been counted at all stations and Vlah was winning the ballot in the first round with 53.21% of the vote.
Her rival, Nicolae Dudoglo, gained 18.20% of the vote, and deputy head of the Gagauzia executive authority Valeriu Yanioglo ranked third with 7.65% of votes.
The Gagauzia Central Elections Commission will post election outcomes on Monday, the incumbent governor said.
The ballot turnout slightly exceeded 58% of 106,000 eligible voters.
Vlah was backed by the Moldovan Party of Socialists (which holds 25 out of 101 seats in the Moldovan parliament). The party calls for renouncing the Moldova-EU association deal and Moldova's accession to the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
Until now, Vlah has been a deputy of the Moldovan parliament.
The governor of the Gagauzia autonomous region is a member of the Moldovan government by law.