The government named discredited persons to key post in the justice sector and this affects the ordinary people’s and employees’ confidence in the system, said the chairman of the Party “Dignity and Truth Platform” (PPDA) Dinu Plîngău. According to him, to really reform the justice sector reform in Moldova, political parties should be fully excluded from the decision-making process. For their part, representatives of civil society said the changes in the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office are visible even if Veronica Dragalin took over only four months ago, IPN reports.
Expert Ion Guzun said the changes in the justice system in the Republic of Moldova started to appear and the international sanctions imposed on persons accused of serious illegalities are a signal that the country’s foreign partners support this reform. The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office must become the most important entity in the fight against grand corruption and the capacities of this institution need to be strengthened.
“The sanctions imposed the U.S. and the UK are political decisions. They are not an action that follows prosecution, but this does not mean that the U.S. and the UK took such decisions without analyzing the documents, information. The actions of these states represent a launching pad for our authorities and show that these states are ready to cooperate with the authorities of the Republic of Moldova. In the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, we saw another speed of work on cased after Veronica Dragalin took up her duties. Particular results were achieved in cases that had been stagnant. I hope a lot that the offered mandate, the political trust, cooperation with other entities, such as the MIA and SIS, will be of aid to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office. On the other hand, the pressing of politicians by international institutions to make the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office more efficient, with larger resources, including with grants and different support, only add value to the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office,” Ion Guzun stated in the talk show “Emphasis on Today” on TVR Moldova channel.
On the other hand, PPDA chairman Dinu Plîngău said the justice sector reform promised by the PAS government disappoints society. Some of the controversial appointments to senior posts in the justice sector are reprovable as they diminish trust in the system.
“The results in justice depend a lot on the political will and on confidence in persons who do this reform. These persons should be competent and know what they want and should ensure appropriate communication as any reform will fail if the people’s trust in the reformation capacity decreases daily. Furthermore, we have a big problem as regards the capacity of the people entrusted by the government with the task of reforming the justice sector. The appointment of discredited persons to key posts in the justice sector diminishes the ordinary people’s and employees’ confidence in the system. When honest judges see that Musteață was named at the Supreme Court of Justice, they wonder what kind of system reform is this. In justice, we need to make sure that the political parties are unable to influence processes in the promotion of people to posts,” noted Dinu Plîngău.
According to representatives of the government, the clearing of the justice system of corrupt elements will take place based on the pre-vetting of candidates for members of the Superior Council of Magistracy and the Superior Council of Prosecutors, and later based on the extraordinary assessment of all the judges and prosecutors. The persons who will not pass the integrity and professionalism tests within vetting will be replaced with young specialists.
