Natalia Șoșeva

Natalia Dmitrievna Șoșeva^[1] (born 1964) is a Moldovan pharmaceutical executive and politician who served in the People's Assembly of Gagauzia from 2003 until 2021. An independent politician, she represented the town of Joltai. Since 2022, Șoșeva has been the interim president of the Ceadîr-Lunga District [ro].

Natalia Șoșeva
Member of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia for Joltai
In office 2003–2021
Preceded by	Fiodor Terzi
Succeeded by	Nicolai Andrușoi
Personal details
Born	1964 (age 59–60)
Political party	Independent

Biography

Natalia Șoșeva was born in 1964. Prior to entering politics, she worked as both a doctor and pharmacist. Șoșeva was the head of Farmacon, a pharmaceutical company based in Gagauzia, an autonomous region in southern Moldova. She also owns several real estate properties.^[2]

Șoșeva was elected to the People's Assembly of Gagauzia, the territory's legislature, in the 2003 election, representing the town of Joltai as an independent.^[3] Following her election, she renounced her ownership of Farmacon.^[2] She was re-elected in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 elections, receiving 459 votes (55%),^[4] 503 votes (54%),^[5] and 502 votes (61%),^[6] respectively. Șoșeva became the vice president of the assembly in July 2015, and had previously been the president of the Committee of Health and Social Affairs.^[2]

During her tenure, Șoșeva was a advocate for women in politics. At a 2015 forum hosted by the United Nations Development Programme in Comrat, she spoke of discrimination she faced when entering politics, stating that "approximately 50 people called me personally and told me that they could not vote for my candidacy, even though they assured me that they respect both me and my family. They said they can't vote for me just because I'm a woman".^[7][8] She was the only woman elected to the assembly in 2012.^[2]

Șoșeva opposed the Moldovan Audiovisual Coordinative Council [ro]'s suspension of the television license of Russia-24, and proposed that Gagauzia create its own licensing commission.^[2] She was also a supporter of the construction of a new medical center in Joltai.^[9] In 2021, Șoșeva supported that year's controversial budget resolution, which did not include financial provisions for Joltai, leaving the town without money for street lights, construction, or school meals.^[10][11] Șoșeva ran for re-election in the 2021 Gagauzian legislative election, but was defeated by independent candidate Nicolai Andrușoi, receiving 278 votes (35%) compared to Andrușoi's 447 votes (56%).^[12]

On 18 March 2022, she was appointed interim president of the Ceadîr-Lunga District [ro] by Irina Vlah, the governor of Gagauzia.^[13]

References

1. "Gagavuz Yeri Halk Meclisi VI toplantısının milletvekilleri listesi" [List of deputies of the VI meeting of the Gagauz People's Assembly]. People's Assembly of Gagauzia (in Gagauz). 2009-11-11. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
2. Enache, Natalia (October 18, 2016). "La Joltai lupta se dă între vice-președintele Adunării Populare a Găgăuziei, un proprietar al unei rețele de televiziune și un agronom" [In Joltai, the Fight is Between the Vice-President of the People's Assembly of Gagauzia, an Owner of a Television Network and an Agronomist]. MoldovaCurata.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
3. "Alegerile în Adunarea Populară a Găgăuziei din 2003" [The Elections in the People's Assembly of Gagauzia in 2003]. Alegeri.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
4. "Alegerile în Adunarea Populară a Găgăuziei din 2008" [The Elections in the People's Assembly of Gagauzia in 2008]. Alegeri.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
5. "Alegerile în Adunarea Populară a Găgăuziei din 2012" [The Elections in the People's Assembly of Gagauzia in 2008]. Alegeri.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
6. "Alegerile în Adunarea Populară a Găgăuziei din 2016" [The Elections in the People's Assembly of Gagauzia in 2016]. Alegeri.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
7. "The Fifth Regional Parliamentary Forum "Dialogue With Citizens" Was Held in Comrat". United Nations Development Programme. December 15, 2015. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
8. Gușan, Nicu (2015-12-15). "Promovarea femeilor în politică este încurajată la Comrat" [The Promotion of Women in Politics is Encouraged at Comrat]. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
9. "В Джолтае состоялось открытие нового здания Центра здоровья" [The Opening of a New Building of the Health Center Took Place in Joltai]. MOLDOVAinform (in Russian). 2015-05-28. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
10. "Депутат Нсг Наталья Шошева Оставила Детей Села Джолтай Без Питания В Школе" [NSG Deputy Natalia Shosheva Left the Children of Dzholtay Village Without Food at School]. Vedomosti Gagauzia (in Russian). 2021. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
11. "Депутат Чимпоеш Наталье Шошевой: Вы ратуете за них, но они вытерли об Вас ноги" [Deputy Chimpoesh Natalia Shosheva: You Stand Up for Them, but They Wiped Their Feet on You]. GagauzYeri.com (in Russian). 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
12. "Alegerile în Adunarea Populară a Găgăuziei din 2021" [The Elections in the People's Assembly of Gagauzia in 2008]. Alegeri.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.
13. Pendea, Cristina (2022-03-18). "Raionul Ceadîr-Lunga are un nou președinte" [The Ceadîr-Lunga District Has a New President]. Provincial.md (in Romanian). Retrieved 2023-04-24.