Moldovan government gives positive note to Law on Prosecutor General's Office

Chisinau, 13 September /MOLDPRES/ - The draft on amendment of the Law on Prosecutor General’s Office, which provides for the procedure of appointment of the prosecutor general, was given positive notification at a cabinet meeting today.   

The justice ministry proposes three major changes, aimed at strengthening the role of the executive power in the process of selecting the candidate for the office of Prosecutor General through a transparent procedure, Justice Minister Olesea Stamati has said. The draft does not jeopardize the independence and autonomy of the Prosecutor General’s Office, “as the Superior Council of Prosecutors (CSP) will have the decisive role, being thus the body due to finally decide the candidacy who will be put forward to the country’s president.”    

The ministry proposes the setting up of a commission due to make the pre-selection of candidates. The commission created by the Justice Ministry will be made up of a prosecutor or judge with at least ten years of experience in the office of prosecutor or judge, an international expert, a recognized expert or professor in the law field, the justice minister, a representative of the civil society. The commission will be assisted by a psychologist.  

This commission will organize a public contest, as a result of which it will preselect  ”at least two, but there can be also three and four candidates,”  who will be put forward to the Superior Council of Prosecutors. At present, the Prosecutor General is elected through contest by CSP and put forward to the head of state for approval.

The second change implies the widening of the spectrum of candidates for the position of prosecutor general. Presently, the law sees ten years of legal length of service and five years either of prosecutor or judge, as well as seven years as lawyer or criminal prosecution officer. The third change should lead to the extension of the composition of the Superior Council of Prosecutors through the inclusion of the head of the Lawyers Union, ombudsman and civil society’s representative, due to be approved by the government.    

„The adoption of this draft is the major priority on which we cannot do any compromise. People want all the thieves to be caught and punished, just as the law stipulates. The money stolen must be recovered. People want all the illegally collected wealth to be confiscated in the interest of the state and people want us to convey a message: theft is punished in Moldova. As a matter of fact, all our appointments, our policies will not yield results, if those who committed unlawful things are not sanctioned and if the state’s wealth which was stolen is not returned,” Prime Minister Maia Sandu said.    

The prime minister added that the justice reform can become true beginning with the appointment of a true prosecutor general, a professional and courageous prosecutor, who is not afraid of politicians and thieves.