Prime Minister Maia Sandu claims that today's decision of the High Council of Prosecutors to launch the employment contest for the position of Prosecutor General, defies the expectations of all citizens. The prime minister argues that the decision ignored all the initiatives and efforts to change the prosecutor general selection process.
"They launched this contest, even though there is both a bill, voted by the Parliament in the first reading, which changes the selection procedure of the prosecutor general, and several steps regarding the fundamental reform of the Prosecutor's Office. It seems that the SCP did not understand yet that the times when they could appoint corrupt prosecutors as Harunjen, Popa or Bețișor have passed. On numerous occasions has this Council shown that it believes itself to be above any laws and above the national interest”, declared Maia Sandu in a press briefing.
According to her, being an autonomous institution does not mean operating outside the law and in disregard of the interests of citizens. The head of the cabinet of ministers said that "the entire country knows that the main problem in justice is the lack of independence of the prosecutor's office and SCP's decision conclusively demonstrates it”. "Does this Council want to show that it can continue the debauchery? Does it want to tell us that it will continue to serve the corrupt, as it served Plahotniuc? Because that is the message they delivered us today through the decision they made. By this decision they have shown once again that they are not able to reform from within", said the prime minister.
Due to these reasons, Maia Sandu said that the government will increase its involvement, adding that "the seriousness of the problem requires crisis solutions". Thus, during next week's government session the urgent creation of the prime minister's "Office against corruption and the reform of justice" will be discussed. The body will include, along with representatives of civil society and international experts, leaders of all the institutions responsible for justice and anti-corruption.
"The government will have a large part in cleaning up the system and selecting the new prosecutor general. We will insist on external evaluation commissions, with the involvement of foreign experts starting with the highest level of the judiciary and of the prosecutor's offices. We will insist on a rigorous selection system for the prosecutor general position”, the chief of the executive said. According to her, the system will oppose change and there will be hostile reactions from within. "But the fight for a free justice will go on to the end."
The High Council of Prosecutors announced today, August 9, the launching of the employment contest for the position of prosecutor general. The application deadline is September 10. At the hearing, the Minister of Justice, Olesea Stamate, suggested that the contest should be postponed for September as the Law on the prosecutor's office is being amended. On the other hand, several members of the SCP have stated that the current law must be applied. According to them, there are no justifications to prevent the selection process from taking place now.
