The Government today approved draft amendments to the Prosecution Service Law. Among the bill’s highlights are the exclusion of the requirement for the Prosecutor General to be a Moldovan national, and a larger Superior Council of Prosecutors.

Under the proposed amendments, when the post of Prosecutor General becomes vacant, the Council is to appoint a caretaker until a contest is held to appoint a new Prosecutor General, subject to confirmation by presidential decree.

Justice Minister Olesea Stamate said that the requirement for a PG candidate to have a minimum five years’ work experience as a prosecutor is also proposed to be removed. Combined with the removal of the nationality requirement, this will create the opportunity for an outstanding foreign jurist to become PG.

Another proposal is to extend the number of Council members from 12 to 19. The additional members will be delegated as follows: one by the Academy of Sciences, one by the President, two by the Government, two by Parliament and one by the Lawyers’ Union. They are to be selected within six weeks from the entry into effect of the proposed amendments.