Parliament votes completion of Moldova's Constitution

Chisinau, 13 April /MOLDPRES/ - The parliament today amended and completed  the Constitution of Moldova, the parliament’s communication and public relations department has reported.  

The Fundamental Law was completed with one chapter about the status and role of the Institution of Ombudsman. The chapter, Status and Role of Ombudsman, stipulates that the latter ensures the promotion and protection of the fundamental human rights and freedoms. The Ombudsman is appointed to office by the parliament, with the votes of the majority of the elected lawmakers, for a seven-year mandate, which cannot be renewed. The new regulations, adopted with 81 votes, will protect the independence of the institution of Ombudsman from political fluctuation, according to the recommendations of the international structures, especially the Venice Commission.    

Also at a today’s meeting, the parliament modified, in the first reading, the chapter on judges’ autonomy. The new amendments exclude the initial term of five years of appointing judges. They will be appointed to office by the Moldovan president, at a proposal by the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), till reaching the age ceiling. Moldova’s president can turn down the candidacy put forward by CSM only one time. The members of the Superior Council of Magistracy will be elected or appointed for a six-year mandate, without possibility to hold two mandates in a row. The prosecutor general will no longer be CSM member.   

The amendments were made to carry out the actions of the Pillar I, Judicial System, of the action plan on the implementation of the justice sector reform strategy, approved under the parliament decision No 6 from 16 February 2012 and are provided for in the national action plan for the implementation of the Moldova-EU Association Agreement.