President Igor Dodon says that there is a risk that the Government led by Maia Sandu will collapse and we will have early parliamentary elections. According to him, in 72 hours it will become known whether or not Maia Sandu Government will continue its activity, after the Government’s decision to amend the Law on the Prosecution Service through an emergency procedure will be discussed in Parliament. Also, the head of state urges Maia Sandu to withdraw this draft legislation because there are high risks it will not be supported and the Government will have to be dissolved.
“I think the best solution in this situation is for the Government to withdraw this responsibility and sit down at the discussion table with the coalition partners. This assumption of responsibility is totally illegal, it has no constitutional support and no person or deputy will be able to support this initiative. This is my opinion,” stated Igor Dodon during a talk show on Jurnal TV.
In his opinion, Prime Minister Maia Sandu should dismiss Justice Minister Olesea Stamate, who was responsible for setting up the committee to pre-select candidates for the position of prosecutor general, and yesterday canceled the results of the contest. Also, the head of state says Maia Sandu should come forward with another candidate for the position of Minister of Justice and announce a new contest for the position of prosecutor general. Alternatively, the Constitution should be amended in a way that makes it possible to assume political responsibility for this function.
Igor Dodon said that on Wednesday evening he had a sit-down with Prime Minister Maia Sandu and the Speaker of the Parliament, Zinaida Greceanii, and discussed the given situation, but he refused to give more details. Also, today he is going to meet with accredited ambassadors in Moldova to discuss the same topic.
President Igor Dodon believes that those who organize these contests do exactly like the former Democrat leader Vladimir Plahotniuc did. “The contest results for public positions are being canceled, the rules of the game are being changed during the game. You act exactly like Plahotniuc. You want to appoint convenient people. For what purpose?” wonders the president. He also stated that he doesn’t know the pre-selection committee member delegated by the President of Parliament and who Oleasea Stamate accused of rigging the selection.
Yesterday Justice Minister Olesea Stamate stated that she will issue an order to cancel the results of the contest for the position of prosecutor general, arguing that the members of the pre-selection committee received additional information regarding some candidates. In addition, the minister announced that one of the committee members evaluated disproportionately some candidates.
On the same day, the Government assumed responsibility for amending the Law of the Prosecutor's Office, according to which the Prime Minister and not the pre-selection committee will be responsible for putting forward two candidates for the post of prosecutor general, from which the Superior Council of Prosecutors will select and the head of state will appoint. The legislation provides that, if the assumption of responsibility is not accepted by the Parliament for 72 hours, the Government resigns.
