Moldovan cabinet willing cancellation of contest initiated by Superior Council of Prosecutors for nomination of Prosecutor General

Chisinau, 13 September /MOLDPRES/ - The changes to the Law on Prosecutor General’s Office, approved by the cabinet today, have been discussed with the ruling coalition partners. “We have received assurances that we will be supported. Moreover, the draft law will be adopted on the days to come, just earlier next week. We want to see this law voted in two readings and promulgated as soon as possible, in order to cease the contest launched by the Superior Council of Prosecutors (CSP),” Prime Minister Maia Sandu said following the cabinet meeting.    

The PM said that she was expecting the promulgation of the amendments, in order “to start an authentic selection process.” “After the parliament adopts the law in the second reading and it is published, the contest organized by CSP will be considered null,” the official also said. Maia Sandu added that the people who had participated in CSP’s contest can submit the files to the “authentic contest” as well.      

Seven files for the office of Prosecutor General were submitted to the Superior Council of Prosecutors, of which six - on 10 September. In a period of five working days after expiration of the deadline for submitting the acts, the list of candidates and the CV, motivation letter and the concept of management and institutional development of the Prosecutor General’s Office, presented by each candidate, are to be published on the official webpage of the Superior Council of Prosecutors.       

Dumitru Robu has been acting prosecutor general starting from 31 July. He was nominated by the parliament and appointed to office under a decree by Igor Dodon. The position of Prosecutor General remained vacant on 11 July, after Eduard Harunjen had resigned from office, invoking the impossibility to exercise the duties for health reasons. After the change of the state power, the political establishment at rule and the civil society demanded the resignation of the Prosecutor General and on 9 July, the parliament passed a decision, thereby ascertaining that there were irregularities in Harunjen’s appointment to office.