The legislative body passed a bill on the institution of the post of people’s ombudsman in the first reading, but formulated a number of amendments for the second reading, IPN reports.

Deputy Minister of Justice Nicolae Esanu said the people’s ombudsman will replace the current parliamentary ombudspersons and will play the role of ensuring the observance of the human rights and freedoms. The post will be held for a seven-year term. Consecutive holding of terms is banned.

The people’s ombudsman will be chosen at a contest organized by the legal commission, with the presentation of all the candidates in Parliament. The person who will garner the largest number of votes will be confirmed in the post. The people’s ombudsman will be assisted by two deputies named by Parliament, at the suggestion of the people’s ombudsman. A Torture Prevention Council will be set up under the people’s ombudsman.

Deputy Speaker Liliana Palihovici proposed keeping the post of children’s ombudsman alongside that of people’s ombudsman. She also said the MPs should select the people’s ombudsman not from all the candidates competing in the contest, but from 2-3 candidates chosen by the legal commission.

MP Deputatul Dumitru Diacov said only persons with moral dignity and irreproachable reputation should be admitted to the contest. “The practice when the parliamentary ombudspersons worked by order should be avoided. We want the people’s ombudsman to be the people’s pride,” he stated.