Political class has excessive influence on NAC and NCDC, CReDO

The National Anticorruption Center (NAC) and the National Council for Discrimination Combating (NCDC) are powerfully influenced politically, which means that the functionality of the two bodies is minimal, said the director of the Resource Center for Human Rights (CReDO) Sergiu Ostaf. In a news conference, he said that the political class instituted the NAC in order to promote its interests and politicized the NCDC in order to create a weak institution, Info-Prim Neo reports. Sergiu Ostaf said that the parties of the ruling alliance have examined the candidates for NAC vice director for two months and cannot reach a compromise as every party has its own interests. Thus, this is interference of the political class in the work of the NAC. CReDO director said that some of the parliamentary groups impose conditions for voting in the vice directors as they want to obtain certain control. “We understand that negotiations are being held to select the NAC vice directors. This has a negative impact and creates a rather servile attitude within the NAC because an institution that is under the influence of the political class sends powerful discouragement messages,” said Sergiu Ostaf. As to the NCDC, the CReDO director said that the Government approved the regulations concerning the work of the Council on December 6, treating it as a matter of urgency. “One of the significant drawbacks of the regulations that were drafted by the Ministry of Justice is the low salary of the Council’s head,” he stated. According to Sergiu Ostaf, the regulations do not enable civil society members to take part in the process as observers and do not clearly say what powers the Council’s head has. The conditions that must be met by the candidates for the managerial post are not defined. “I think the message of the Ministry of Justice is clear – they want a very weak institution,” said Sergiu Ostaf. In the same news conference, CReDO expert Elena Terzi said that the laws in Moldova have been adjusted to the international standards, but there are shortcomings as regards the naming of managers of institutions, the punishments for political influence, and the budgetary independence.