The Government has endorsed a bill to strengthen prosecutors’ procedural independence, but recommends revising several provisions to avoid bottlenecks in criminal investigations and overlapping court jurisdictions. The decision was approved at an online meeting convened on Wednesday afternoon, separate from the Government’s regular meeting held that morning, IPN reports.

The bill introduced by PAS MP Igor Chiriac seeks to delineate the powers of supervising prosecutors and the Prosecutor General, introduce mechanisms to oversee interventions in prosecutors’ work, and limit the justice minister’s involvement in certain decisions by the Superior Council of Prosecutors concerning prosecutors’ discipline, selection, career progression, and performance evaluation.

The government warns that requiring prior consultation with the chief prosecutor of a specialised prosecutor’s office could delay criminal investigations. It recommends setting a 48-hour deadline for submitting an opinion, clarifying that the opinion is advisory, and allowing the Prosecutor General to intervene urgently without prior consultation, provided the decision is justified afterwards.

Another provision allows the Prosecutor General’s instructions and orders to be challenged before the Court of Appeal. The Government warns of the risk of overlap between the court’s jurisdiction and that of the investigating judge, and recommends that complaints be examined under the existing judicial review mechanism. If this jurisdiction is assigned to the Court of Appeal, the procedure and the legal effects of its rulings must be clearly defined.

The government also calls for clarification of the criteria for transferring criminal cases to other investigative bodies, as well as the consequences of overturning such a decision for procedural acts already carried out and evidence gathered. It also recommends specifying the circumstances in which the Minister of Justice may not attend meetings of the Superior Council of Prosecutors.

The government proposes that the law take effect on April 30, 2027, except for the provisions concerning the Minister of Justice, which would apply one month after publication. The Prosecutor General’s Office would have six months to bring the regulatory framework into line with the new law.

The bill passed its first reading in parliament and now awaits a final vote.