President Maia Sandu rejects the idea that her presence at the meeting of the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) on May 27 is interference in the affairs of the judiciary. She said she went to see the judges and to personally transmit to them the message that the phenomenon of corruption in the system represents a danger to state security.

“It wasn’t a planned meeting of the SCM. I asked the Council to come together. I went there to transmit very clear and serious messages, based on the analysis I have made for months given that I now have access to more information. A majority of honest people is needed in Parliament as the justice sector reform needs to be adopted in Parliament. Until we get there, we see that decisions that cause considerable damage to the state are now taken. There are risks threatening whole sectors, like the insurance one,” Maia Sandu stated in the talk show “Natalia Morari’s Politics” on TV8 channel.

President Sandu noted that the presence of her adviser on legal issues at the SCM meeting wasn’t a violation of the legislation, even if Olesea Stamate runs for MP on the PAS list. “Olesea Stamate is my adviser on justice and it was normal for her to be present at that meeting. She didn’t leave office. If she decides to leave her post for a period, she will do it. There is not illegality here,” stated Maia Sandu.

President Sandu noted that the visit to the SCM was not political in character and cannot be regarded as a political advantage for an election runner. “What I did at the SCM wasn’t for a political party, for the PAS or for another candidate. This issue is the major concern of the citizens and a major risk for the country. We should not avoid the necessity of reforming the justice sector and speak about auxiliary elements only,” stated Maia Sandu.

On May 27, President Maia Sandu had a meeting with members of the Superior Council of Magistracy. In the discussions, she noted she will insist on the external assessment of judges as an instrument for cleaning the system.