Moldovan PM insists on rigorous system for selecting next general prosecutor

Chisinau, 09 August /MOLDPRES/ – Prime Minister, Maia Sandu, has said that the Government will insist on applying a rigorous system for selecting the next General Prosecutor (PG), including by involving foreign experts. The statement has been made on Friday, 09 August, in the context in which the Superior Council of Prosecutors (CSP) announced competition for the position of PG.

Maia Sandu has stated that, by the decision, the CSP once again has proved that it is not capable of making internal reforms. "The decision of today of the CSP to organise a contest for the appointment of a new PG, ignoring our initiatives and efforts to change the way it is chosen, represents a challenge to the expectations of citizens. They have launched this contest even though there is a draft law voted in the first reading of the Parliament, which changes the procedure for choosing a PG, as well as several steps regarding the deep reform of the Prosecutor's office. By this decision they demonstrated once again that they are not able to make reforms from within. That is why the Government will be involved more seriously," said Maia Sandu.

The PM has said that the seriousness of the issue requires crisis solutions. Under these terms, next week, the Government will discuss in its meeting the urgent creation of the office of combating corruption and reform of justice with the PM. It will include representatives of civil society, international experts and leaders of all institutions responsible for justice and anticorruption.

"The Government is accountable to the citizens and takes enormous responsibilities, while prosecutors, judges, ANI leadership and others like them are fighting for justice. The Government will have a hard word to say in cleaning up the system and choosing the new PG, we shall insist on external evaluation commissions, with the involvement of foreign experts”, said Maia Sandu.

The CSP has announced today a contest for the position of PG, even though the Minister of Justice, Olesea Stamate, has requested its postponement until there are modified legal provisions on it.