The law to adopt the justice sector reform strategy for 2011-2016 was primarily a letdown. Even if particular reforms were done, these didn’t produce a palpable result, Minister of Justice Alexandru Tanase stated in a press briefing, IPN reports.
According to Alexandru Tanase, the situation can be remedied and the replacement of 30% of the judges was one of the good elements of this law. “These are mainly young, new people who weren’t involved in scandals and have an honorable reputation and sufficient professional training to cope with the duties of judge,” noted the minister.
He said the reforms in the justice sector cannot be imposed by administrative ways. The judges do not correctly understand the status of judge. “The judicial independence is a privilege not of judges, but of society,” stated Alexandru Tanase.
According to the minister, the appeal ways remain a problem of the Moldovan justice as the power is concentrated in the hands of the Supreme Court of Justice. “I think for the future justice sector reform strategy, the Government will suggest fully reviewing the role of the Supreme Court of Justice. The initial concept of the reform, according to which this institution should be a court of cassation with a low number of judges and with different powers than the current ones, could be restored,” said Alexandru Tanase.
Legislative changes to make the hearings of the Supreme Court of Justice public will be proposed by the end of this year. “When a court pronounces on the freedom of a person, it is important for this person to take part directly in the trying of his case,” stated the minister.
The Ministry of Justice will also propose a reform of the judicial control of preventive measures. The intention is to remove the judges of inquiry and to institute judges for rights and freedoms who will have another qualification and will be chosen in a different way.
