President Voronin inks decrees allowing Security Service to verify candidates to public offices

Vladimir Voronin has signed the Law on verifying the candidates to public offices, passed by the Parliament in December 2008. The goal is to prevent and fight the negative phenomena within public administrations, which discredit the public office and harm the national security interests, reads a communique issued by the presidency, Info-Prim Neo reports. The law was drafted by the Service of Information and Security (SIS). After performing the verifications, the SIS will present an advisory note to be taken into account in stating the compatibility for the public office. If a candidate is found unfit, he won't be allowed to occupy the respective public office. The SIS will also verify the fitness of office holders, who may be dismissed if found unfit. The refusal of the candidate or the holder of the public office to get verified may serve as ground not to hire him/her or to sack him/her. When discussed in the parliament, the opposition harshly slammed the draft, arguing it is part of the rulers' abusive practice to restrict the citizens' rights and freedoms and that the questionnaires to be filled in by the candidates or holders “are samples from the KGB's files.” Opposition MPs also remarked that enacting the law in the wake of the parliamentary elections pursues to thoroughly select the administrative staff depending on loyalty to the Communists party.