Moldovan government to submit better ombudsman activity draft law to top court

Chisinau, 30 March /MOLDPRES/-The cabinet today decided to withdraw the draft law supplementing the Moldovan Constitution's provisions on the activity of the People’s Ombudsman, it had submitted to the Constitutional Court (CC) in mid-February. Thus, the government approved the draft in a different format.

The Constitutional Court recommended that the draft law be improved, “therefore, we decided to withdraw the draft, which was under examination at CC, and submit an improved version of it, with more chances to be approved by the top court,” Justice Minister Vladimir Cebotari said.

The amendments to the Constitution, provided for the appointment of the ombudsman into office by the parliament for a seven-year non-renewable mandate, with the majority of MPs’ votes, based on transparent public selection process. The ombudsman shall be dismissed with the vote of 2/3 of the parliament’s MPs, observing the procedures provided by the law and including his previous hearing.

Only a person “with an impeccable reputation, high professional competencies and notorious activity in the field of human rights defense and promotion” shall be appointed as ombudsman. The organization and functioning of the ombudsman institution is regulated by the law.

An ombudsman has no right to conduct political activity and cannot be a member of any political party. The ombudsman “is not legally liable for the opinions voiced in relation to the exercise of his mandate”. Interference in his activity, deliberate ignoring of the ombudsman notifications and recommendations bear legal liability.

(Reporter V. Bercu, Editor A. Raileanu)