The Socialist Party has filed a motion of censure as a result of the government assuming responsibility for modifying the Law on the Prosecutor's Office.
The motion was presented by Socialist MP Vasile Bolea, who said that the government's assumption of responsibility endangers the independence of the prosecutor's office and the independence of the justice system. Maia Sandu "changed the rules of the game during play, ignored the Constitution and the opinion of the Venice Commission and betrayed the trust of political and international partners" said the parliamentarian. The MP added that she was trying to return to the old procedure of appointing the prosecutor based on political criteria. "On November 6, we witnessed the coup against justice", said the PSRM MP.
While presenting the overnment responsibility assumption bill, Maia Sandu said that the prime minister will preselect at least two candidates for the position of General Prosecutor, based on their professional training, skills, integrity and other personal qualities and will forward the list of preselected candidates and their files to the Superior Council of Prosecutors. In other words, the prime minister submits a short list of candidates to the CSP. Subsequently, the CSP may elect one of those candidates and will forward his or her candidacy for the General Prosecutor position to the president of the country. Maia Sandu said that the mechanism is similar to the one proposed and voted for in September and provides sufficient balancing measures for the involved institutions,.
Another provision of the bill provides for the prime minister to set up an evaluation commission for the activity of the General Prosecutor in case of illegal interference in the activity of other prosecutors or in case of illegal interventions of any kind in the activity of authorities, institutions or officials in order to resolve any issue, or in the case of crimes and actions that seriously affect the image of the Prosecutor's Office or the independence of the prosecutors.
Maia Sandu said that she intends to promote professional and honest people for the position of General Prosecutor. "The proper functioning of the Prosecutor's Office depends on the courage, vision and integrity of the General Prosecutor, on the ability of all the employees of this institution to properly do their jobs, according to the letter of the law", said the prime minister during the Parliament plenary session, before the motion of censure was filed.
The Permanent Bureau will meet within the next three days in order to decide when the next plenary session will be held, at which point the motion of censure will be examined.
