Moldovan justice minister describes justice reform adopted in 2011 as failure

Chisinau, 30 January /MOLDPRES/ - The strategy of justice reform, passed in parliament in 2011, was, to a great extent, a failure, as a palpable result of this reform has not been felt, even if 30 per cent of the judges were changed. Justice Minister Alexandru Tanase made statements to this effect while unveiling the strategic directions and priority actions on justice reform at a news conference today.    

According to the minister, the new changes concerning the judicial system will be carried out till the end of this legislative period. “At present, we have a positive premise, as the corps of magistrates has been changed by over 30 per cent in the judicial environment. There are young people with a sufficient professional education to cope with these offices. In the environment of young judges, corruption problems have not been recorded, which means that we have a solid  ground to create, in the person of these judges, pioneers of the change,” Tanase said.     

The minister noted that the new amendments proposed within the reform were meant to bring viable and functional solutions as regards the ways of appeal in the judicial system, problem of preventive arrests and a large number of conviction sentences. “At the same time, in the months to come, the government will propose a full revision of the role of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), and the ministry will come up with a comprehensive reform which sees giving up the present institution of court investigators and training of judges for rights and freedoms, who will have other powers and another qualification, will be selected objectively and based on new concrete requirements,” Tanase said.      

Also, the Justice Ministry will promote the permanent assessment of judges’ performances, depending on more criteria. “Possibilities of access to the office of magistrate will be made uniform, so that a system having at basis transparency will be created. For this system to work, the National Integrity Agency will get directly involved, whose inspectors will inquiry the wealth of the persons falling under the action of this law,” the minister noted.  

Also this year, the government is to work out legislative amendments to establish an efficient mechanism of enhancing judges’ responsibility, which represents a requirement contained in the memorandum on macro-financial assistance signed with EU.  

Another amendment regards the work of the judicial inspection, ensuring a  mechanism of aleatory distribution of files, endowment of court rooms with audio recording equipments, in order to ensure a maximum level of transparency, etc.   

At the same time, the ministry will propose limiting the capacity of member of the Superior Council of Magistracy to a single term and limiting the right of the Prosecutor General, Justice Minister and CSJ to give their opinions on the appointment, promotion and dismissal of judges.    

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor M. Jantovan)