Prime Minister Maia Sandu said that she has found no other solution than to put forward to Parliament the assumption for modifying the Law on the Prosecutor's Office, so as to put forward two candidacies for the position of General Prosecutor. The prime minister said that this solution was not the most elegant, however, it was the only available option. Additionally, Maia Sandu said that she will not back down or withdraw her draft and that its the Socialists' turn to decide in Parliament.
"We made a decision today and we have no reason to cancel this law. Socialist MPs and other members of the legislative body can decide in the legislature what will they do next", said Maia Sandu during Wednesday night's TV8 show "Politica Nataliei Morari".
The prime minister said that this solution was probably not the most elegant, however, it was the only available option. "We are facing a major problem. Justice reform is our most important problem, which is why we are still part of this parliamentarian majority. The appointment of the General Prosecutor is an important element of the justice reform. We need to make sure that the candidates on the shortlist that gets to the Superior Council of Prosecutors, which subsequently the CSP selects and puts forward to the president, are people with integrity, people who we trust to enforce the law and who will work for the citizens, not for special interest groups, as it previously happened", said Maia Sandu.
The head of the cabinet said that she did not identify any other solutions, which is why she took this risk. "We are ready to bear all costs, including the government's fall. If the Socialists decide to go against justice reform, this might trigger the government's resignation", said Maia Sandu.
According to her, certain questions arose regarding the integrity of some candidates picked by the pre-selection commission and these questions could not remain unanswered. "I cannot allow for this short list to reach the CSP and hope that the CSP will seriously take the candidate related integrity questions into account and will establish filters at the next stage of the contest", added the head of the cabinet.
Maia Sandu said that only the Constitutional Court can decide whether the government's assumption for the Law on the Prosecutor's Office is constitutional or not. "It is very important for us who the next General Prosecutor will be for the next 7 years. We can either start a real reform or we can continue debauchery in the Prosecutor's Office as it was until now", said the PAS chairwoman.
The head of the cabinet said that she does not see why would the president demand the resignation of the minister of justice, Olesea Stamate.
On Wednesday, November 6, the Minister of Justice, Olesea Stamate, announced that she will issue an order canceling the results of the contest for the position of Prosecutor General on the grounds that the members of the pre-selection commission have received additional information regarding some candidates. Moreover, the minister said that one of the commission members was clearly issuing points in a disproportionate manner to some candidates, compared to the appreciation offered by the other members of the commission.
On the same day, the government assumed responsibility for modifying the Law on the Prosecutor's Office, according to which the prime minister, not the pre-selection commission, will be responsible for submitting two candidacies for the position of General Prosecutor to the Superior Council of Prosecutors, who will select a single person and forward the candidacy for appointment to the head of state. The legislation provides that, if the assumption of responsibility is not accepted by the Parliament within 72 hours, the government will resign.
