The naming of an apolitical prosecutor general is an important, but insufficient element for ensuring the independence and depoliticization of the prosecution service, Prosecutor General Corneliu Gurin said in the IPN interview “Prosecution service can and should be reformed in people’s and society’s interests” that was published on April 29, 2013.
“Depoliticization is not done only by naming an apolitical prosecutor general. The independence and depoliticization is ensured by creating mechanisms aimed at blocking the attempts to exert political influence on all the prosecutors. Not even those naïve believe that the political pressure is exerted only on the manager of a certain institution. That’s why my priority now is to identify, together with my colleagues, efficient instruments for preventing such interference in the work of the prosecutors and the PGO in the future. I mean not only political interference, but also any kind of attempts to influence the prosecutors and the investigation,” said Corneliu Gurin.
According to him, ensuring of independence is one of the key elements in the process of reforming the prosecution service.
“I started attentively, with small, but well-planned as well as determined steps. The accommodation will not last long. Together with the colleagues from the Prosecutor General’s Office, we already started work on the projects and measures aimed at increasing the institution’s efficiency, at making it more transparent and focused exclusively on the constitutional and legal tasks,” said Corneliu Gurin.
The reformation of the prosecution service is a long and complex process, but the most important thing is its initiation, considers the prosecutor general.
“The reform process is a long one, but it is important that it be launched and constant work be done in this respect so that the stage of strategies and roundtable meetings is passed. I know what was done until now. There are relevant plans and policy documents. The prosecution service has its own strategic development plan approved by the Supreme Council of Prosecutors. We will start internal reforms by optimizing, modernizing and reducing the own competences and will insist that no interference is made in the work of the prosecutors so that the autonomy and independence of the prosecution service is ensured. I think the prosecutors should be conferred the status of judge, with the classical elements of this status,” said Corneliu Gurin.
He believes that it is very important to restore society’s and every person’s trust in the prosecution service, to ensure a new level of communication and transparency, and to rationalize and strengthen the role of the college and self-management bodies of the PGO.
“I hope we will be asked out opinion when the new government program is worked out, as regards the reformation of the prosecution service. We will formulate proposals and new amendments to the legislation. I will not take hasty measures. This is a complex system with important duties that affect the people’s fate and their rights. But things should be changed and this is what we will do, together with all those who sincerely want to contribute and become involved,” Prosecutor General Corneliu Gurin stated for IPN.
