The amendment concerning the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) that was proposed by the Government and was adopted by Parliament will be promulgated only after the Venice Commission presents its opinion as a matter of urgency, expectedly next month. Prime Minister Ion Chicu, in a video interview for IPN, said the Government suggested increasing the number of SCM members from 12 to 15 so that this institution is functional.
“The bill was given a first reading. Meanwhile, I travelled to Strasbourg and said that we want the Venice Commission’s opinion on the bill. We were assured that we will have an emergency opinion in January and we said that the bill will not be adopted until then. Parliament passed the bill in the second reading and confusion appeared as a result,” stated Ion Chicu.
He noted the adoption in the second reading does not mean that the bill became law. The bill was given a second reading because the MPs will be on vacation until mid-February and one month and a half will be lost. The bill wasn’t promulgated and will not be promulgated until the Venice Commission pronounces on the issue.
According to Ion Chicu, the justice sector reform is very complex and controversial and there are not many chances of promoting it without the Europeans’ support. “A reform concept has been discussed during the past six months and headway was made with the amendments concerning the prosecution service reform. We now have a new prospector general,” stated the official.
He also said that in the discussions he had with Europa officials in Strasbourg, he asked for support for the justice sector reform and was assured that Moldova will receive such support. Experts of the Council of Europe will come to Moldova in January to assist with this reform.
The interview “Prime Minister Ion Chicu’s view about the state of affairs in Moldovan society at the intersection of years” forms part of the series. “Crossroads of years through the angle of the ideal of living better at home” that also involves President Igor Dodon and the leaders of the main parliamentary parties Andrei Năstase, Pavel Fillip and Maia Sandu.
