The performance of the prosecutor general will be examined by a special commission set up by the Superior Council of Prosecutors, but not more often than once a year. The commission will be able to impose disciplinary punishment on the prosecutor general. This is provided in a bill to amend the law on the prosecution service that was adopted by the PAS MPs after giving it a first reading. The MPs of the BCS group didn’t vote, while the members of the Shor group abstained from voting, IPN reports.
The bill’s author, PAS MP Sergiu Litvinenco said the assessment of the performance of the prosecutor general will be initiated at the proposal of the President of the Republic of Moldova or of at least three members of the Superior Council of Prosecutors. The assessment commission will consist of five members, one of whom will be proposed by the President, one by the Ministry of Justice, one by the Superior Council of Magistracy, one by the Superior Council of Prosecutors and one by the prosecutor general.
If the performance is assessed as “failed”, the Superior Council of Prosecutors will propose that the President should dismiss the prosecutor general.
The post of member of the assessment commission will be held by persons specialized in law and public management, with at least ten years’ experience in their fields of activity and with an irreproachable reputation. The commission members proposed by the President and the Ministry of Justice should not be public servants.
Under the bill, the prosecutor general can be suspended if legal action is taken against this. In such a situation, the President names an acting prosecutor general for the suspension period at the proposal of the Superior Council of Prosecutors.
BCS MP Vasile Bolea criticized the bill, saying it goes against the Constitution. He noted the bill wasn’t discussed with the Superior Council of Prosecutors and this does not reform the prosecution service, but is aimed at bringing the service under control.
His mate Grigore Novac said the bill is aimed at removing the current prosecutor general who does not obey the representatives of the power, while Vladimir Voronin said the bill discredits the new minister of justice, who proposed this draft law.
PAS MP Vasile Grădinaru said the ordinary people in elections asked to do justice, while the prosecutor general was named to work. If this does not do his job, he should be punished. The PAS representatives were delegated to Parliament to make the prosecution service functional, not to look powerlessly at its activity.
Earlier, Shor group member Denis Ulanov said the Shor group will not vote for the bill to amend the law on the prosecution service so as not to be accused of settling an old score with the prosecutor, even if they consider that Alexandr Stoianoglo is not the best prosecutor.
The bill will be proposed for public debates next week.
