MPs of the Party of Specialists said a secret meeting of President Maia Sandu and judges took place last week, in breach of the constitutional principle of separation of powers. They asked for explanations from the President, IPN reports.
“We consider this meeting is an attempt to intervene in the activity of the judiciary,” Socialist MP Vasile Bolea told a news conference. He noted that if the President intends to take measures to stimulate the justice sector reform, such meetings should take place with the Superior Council of Magistracy, which deals with matters related to courts, not with a group of judges.
“We consider any activity related to the politics in the justice sector should be carried out in accordance with the justice sector reform strategy that was drafted in concert with international experts and was adopted by Parliament last year,” stated the MP.
Grigore Novac noted the Socialists consider that pressure is being exerted on judges. “We already saw how Maia Sandu, when she served as Prime Minister, tried to subdue the prosecution service of the Republic of Moldova through the assumption of responsibility. This act was later declared illegal by the Constitutional Court. Her actions were harshly criticized by the foreign partners too. We also declared then that it was a nondemocratic attempt to subdue the judiciary, in breach of the law. Time showed that we were right,” stated the MP.
The Socialist MPs noted that they made an official request to the presidential administration and put such questions as: What was the goal and agenda of the meeting? Who took part in it? Why namely those judges were invited? What subjects were discussed?
When asked by journalists one day earlier, Maia Sandu denied that such a meeting took place, noting that when discussions with the Superior Council of Magistracy are planned, the press will be informed. “My discussions with the SCM will be about the justice sector reform, as they see it, and about the process of appointing judges,” stated Maia Sandu, adding that the justice sector reform will also be discussed with prosecutors, in a transparent and clear way.
