Moldovan parliament speaker says discussions to follow on Justice Ministry's platform on draft on creating new prosecutor's office

The authorities have received the opinion of the Venice Commission on the draft law that provides for the creation of the Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (PACCO), and in the coming period, discussions will take place on the Justice Ministry’s platform, in order to analyze the formulated recommendations and reach a final decision. Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu today made statements to this effect.

‘’The opinion of the Venice Commission has arrived. On the Ministry of Justice platform, discussions will be held with the involvement of the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), Superior Council of Prosecutors (CSP), specialized institutions, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (PA), National Anticorruption Centre (CNA), Prosecutor’s Office for Combating the Organized Crime and Special Causes (PCCOCS). They will analyze all these recommendations. The process of prosecutors’ evaluation will also be considered. Then, the Justice Ministry will provide an opinion,’’ Igor Grosu said before the today's parliament meeting.

The speaker specified that, after consultations on the Justice Ministry’s platform, the optimal solution on the draft proposed would be approved.

‘’So, we will see what the recommendations are and consequently decide whether to modify it, or come up with a different approach. All options are on the table. We have paused to see the Commission's comments, to see the Ministry's and authorities' opinions, and based on these arguments, we will decide whether we go with PACCO or a different version,’’ concluded Igor Grosu.

In late last February, the parliament voted, in the first reading, the draft law that provides for the creation of the Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (PACCO). The authors of the draft said that the new institution aimed to consolidate the efforts to combat corruption and organized crime, by unifying current competencies into a specialized, unified and efficient structure. According to the initiative, PACCO will represent the legal successor of the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Causes and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.