Mihail Formuzal

Mihail Formuzal (born 7 November 1959) is a Moldovan politician of Gagauz ethnicity, who was the governor of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia from December 2006 to March 2015.

Early life and career Mihail Formuzal was born on 7 November 1959, in Beșghioz, Ceadîr-Lunga, in what is now Gagauzia, into a large family of peasants. After graduating from elementary schools (1966–1977) of his native village, in 1977 he was enrolled in the military service, within the Soviet Navy.

In 1979, he joined the Frunze Higher Artillery Military School in Odessa (now the Odesa Military Academy) and graduated from it in 1983. He then worked for the Soviet Armed Forces in various leading positions and in November 1994, he resigned having the military rank of major.

Gagauz politics In 1995, Formuzal became Deputy Mayor of Ceadîr-Lunga. Between 1995 and 1998 he studied at Academy of Public Administration of the Government of Republic of Moldova.

In 1995 he was elected deputy mayor, and in 1999 Formuzal was elected as Mayor of Ceadîr-Lunga, later in 2003 being re-elected.

In the first round of elections, on 3 December 2006, Mihail Formuzal and Nicolai Dudoglo accumulated 33.89% and 31.40% respectively of votes. At the second round held on 17 December 2006, the mayor of Ceadir-Lunga, Mihail Formuzal, won the election and became the bashkan (governor of Gagauzia with 56.23% of the votes.

Governor of Gagauzia On 19 December 2006, Mihail Formuzal, the elected governor of Gagauzia, said that he intends to work constructively with the central authorities from Chișinău, which have been criticized several times during the campaign. Formuzal also mentioned that he will not criticize or blame his predecessors, but will end all the projects started during their mandate.

According to the legislation in force, after the announcement of the final official results by the Central Electoral Committee of Gagauzia, the mandate of the new governor must be validated by the Comrat Court of Appeal. Subsequently, by presidential decree, the new governor must be appointed as a member of the Government. Therefore, after almost four years of absence, a representative of the opposition has appeared in the Cabinet, even if he did not have a portfolio.

Personal life After his term as governor of Gagauzia finished, Formuzal emigrated to Germany, where he currently resides. Mihail Formuzal is married and has three children.