New ombudsmen sworn in

The Parliament sworn in 4 new ombudsmen on Thursday, and they will work at the Human Rights Center (HRC) for the coming 5 years. The candidates were approved by the Communists and Christian-Democrats and criticized by the opposition, Info-Prim Neo reports. Out of five nominees, the Parliament elected Anatolie Munteanu and Aurelia Grigoriu, proposed by the President, and Oleg Efrim and Tamara Plamadeala, nominated by the Communists (PCRM) and the Christian-Democrats (PPCD). Ion Morosanu, nominated by Moldova Noastra Alliance (AMN), the Democrats (PD) and the non-affiliated MPs has got but 18 votes. Anatolie Munteanu has been elected as the HRC director. The AMN parliamentarian, Gheorghe Susarenco, says the results of the voting display the bargain between the PCRM and the PPCD. “Concerning this issue, it is absolutely necessary to reach a compromise between the majority and the oppositions. A representative of the opposition would be more credible in society's eyes,” Susarenco stated. The PD faction did not back the four nominees, arguing they are too young. Also the civil society are concerned with the “lack of experience of the new ombudsmen.” The executive manager of the Human Rights Resources Center (CReDO), Sergiu Ostaf, has told Info-Prim Neo the appointed ombudsmen are not too reputed for working in the HR field. He blames the present procedure of electing the ombudsmen for failing to appoint renowned people in the area One of them does not speak Romanian which is grave, says Sergiu Ostaf. The fact that the HRC's director was employed by the prosecutor's office and the police will not enable this man to work as an ombudsman, Sergiu Ostaf says. The ombudsman positions became vacant as the mandates of the former one expired, one of them died and the position of an ombudsman for children was set up recently.