The contest to select a nominee for the position of director of the National Anti-corruption Center (CNA) was not held in a fair manner. Everyone was able to see this after the Parliamentary Legal Committee's score sheet was released, showing details of how Ruslan Flocea ended up being the winner of the nomination process. This was stated by Prime Minister Maia Sandu on the TV8 talk show “Cutia Neagra.”
“The Action and Solidarity Party has a single member in the Committee, while the political bloc ACUM has two members. In general, the contest was held in accordance with the law – the law states that the Legal Committee is the one organizing the competition, but it does not require the members of the committee to be impartial. We had a committee where a single party had more votes and they were biased,” says Maia Sandu.
Therefore, the prime minister concludes, partisan committees are inherently unable to organize genuine, fair selection processes. “The takeaway from this contest is that this committee should no longer be allowed to hold contests,” said the head of the cabinet.
For future contests, Maia Sandu says that ACUM will insist on a different formula, which could be changed when legislation is amended. Another formula would imply that the Committee would not be formed only by parliament members.
Maia Sandu says she had concerns about the appointment of the CNA chief from the very beginning, when the contest period was extended. Ruslan Flocea applied for the position during the extended period.
The prime minister says she conveyed to the socialists the message that the Committee's assessment was biased and that from now on such competitions can no longer be held.
Ruslan Flocea, previously Secretary General of the President's Administration, was confirmed three days ago by 72 votes in Parliament as director of the National Anti-corruption Center, based on the nomination of the Legal Committee.