The parliamentary ombudsman will be named people’s ombudsperson, IPN reports, quoting a bill approved by the Government. Minister of Justice Oleg Efrim said the name is changed in order to avoid confusion among the population and to underline the role of this official in defending human rights, IPN reports.

The bill lays down clear rules as regards the contest for selecting candidates and the appointment procedure. The contest will be considered valid if at least two candidates take part in it. The candidate who will obtain the votes of the parliamentary majority will become the winner. The selection procedure will be as transparent as possible. The candidates’ résumés will be published on the Parliament’s website, while the debates that will involve representatives of civil society and the candidates will be public. Furthermore, the internal structure will be reorganized by creating the ombudsperson’s office that will be administered by a secretary general.

The term in office of the ombudsperson will be extended from 5 to 7 years. Holding two consecutive terms will not be possible. The ombudsperson will not be held accountable for the stated opinions or taken actions, while legal proceedings against this official will be brought only by the prosecutor general.

The National Participation Council that consists of nongovernmental experts approved of this bill. According to the Council’s head Sergiu Ostaf, the document will contribute to strengthening the independence of the ombudspersons. The Council submitted proposals for improving the bill, including creating a specialized division within the ombudsperson’s office that would provide administrative and organizational support and would report to the Council for the Prevention of Torture on ombudspersons. The law should also stipulate that the ombudsperson has jurisdictional authority all over the country and in the situations when the rights of the Moldovans abroad are violated.