Notaries could lose licence if they hinder Justice Ministry inspectors from carrying out checks

The Ministry of Justice will have the right to immediately suspend the activity of the notaries that will deny the inspectors of the Ministry of Justice access to their offices or will refuse to present the documents they request. The Parliament passed a relevant bill in first reading on Friday. Under the bill, if the notary does the same after suspension, he could remain without activity licence. Deputy Minister of Justice Nicoale Esanu said that during the inspection, the notary is obliged to present the notary registers and other documents required by the inspectors. The present legislation does not envisage actions that can be taken in case the notary hinders the inspectors from checking his/her activity. Therefore, the Ministry of Justice encounters difficulties in fulfilling its obligations. The Opposition criticised the bill, saying that by these amendments the Ministry of Justice wants to have more control over notaries. But the Communist MPs supported the bill and the divergences between the two sides provoked disputes among the parliamentarians, who levelled accusations and insults at each other. Speaker Marian Lupu had to intervene several times to calm the spirits down. MP Gheorghe Susarenco said he will challenge the bill in the Constitutional Court if it is adopted in second reading.