Moldovan parliament adopts draft law on prosecution

Chisinau, 29 May /MOLDPRES/ - The parliament passed the draft law on prosecution in the first reading today. Thirty seven MPs voted for the bill.

The draft was put for vote today, after, on 28 May, the lawmakers had considered it for more hours. The bill sets a new mechanism of appointing the prosecutor general. He/she is to be appointed for a single seven-year mandate by the president, at a proposal by the Superior Council of Prosecutors. The candidate will be selected on a public contest basis.

The draft also provides for salary increases for prosecutors. Their wage will be established by making reference to the salary of judges. For instance, the wage of prosecutors of the Prosecutor General’s Office and specialised prosecutions will account for 90 per cent of the salary of a Supreme Court of Justice judge.

Under the bill, the prosecution system will be made up of the Prosecutor General’s Office, specialised and territorial prosecutor's offices. Out of the specialised prosecution, the anti-corruption one will continue to work and a new prosecutor's office will be created – the one on special cases.

The parliament is to approve the draft law in second reading. The law will enter into force on 1 January 2016, except for the provisions on the appointment of the prosecutor general, which will be implemented following the amendment of the Constitution.  

(Reporter C. Russu, Editor A. Raileanu)