The rise in the salaries of judges and prosecutors in 2018 was a precondition for correctness in the job. However, among the Council of Europe member states, the pays of judges in Moldova are the lowest, except for Ukraine. Respectively, the rise in judges’ salaries alone wasn’t an integrity stimulating factor, with more measures in this regard being required, Victoria Virschi, legal adviser at the Legal Resources center of Moldova, stated for IPN in connection with the presentation of an infographic showing the salaries of judges and prosecutors.

“This salary should be probably raised during the next few years, judging by the salaries in the European countries. But on condition that the judges are really correct, upright and contribute to equitable justice,” stated Victoria Virschi.

Compared with 2016, the net annual salary of beginner judges in 2018 rose by 41%, being of over €10,700. Taking into account the relation between the salary of a judge and the official average salary, this ratio in Moldova exceeds the CoE average.

As regards the judges of Supreme Courts, in 2016 these had a gross annual salary of over €12,700, while in 2018 of €17,000 already. “Compared with the average of the Council of Europe countries, the difference is enormous as the CoE average is of over €96,000 a year. Compared with the official average salary, the ratio is of 1:4.4. We are not far from the CoE average,” stated Victoria Virschi.