AEI components accuse each other over NAC actions

The inspections carried out by the National Anticorruption Center (NAC) at the Government, the Main State Tax Inspectorate and other institutions represent a measure taken by the Democratic Party (PDM) against the Liberal Democratic Party (PLDM) for political purposes, considers the head of the Liberal-Democratic parliamentary group Valeriu Strelet. In the program “In Depth” on Pro TV channel, he said the contest to designate the director of the NAC was in fact only a formality. His alliance colleagues – MPs of the Liberal Party (PL) and the PDM – said the Lib-Dems started to express their dissatisfaction immediately after criminal cases were opened against persons named to post by the PLDM over corruption charges, Info-Prim Neo reports. Valeriu Strelet said the inspections were a measure taken by the PDM because the NAC continues to be controlled by a person who is docile and faithful to the PDM. The public contest for selecting the NAC director was nothing but a formality. “It was a situation when an agreement was reached that Chetraru will hold the post further, but will do his job honestly and equidistantly and will be apolitical. Unfortunately, this does not happen,” stated Valeriu Strelet, stressing that the PLDM withdrew its support for the NAC. Liberal MP Valeriu Munteanu said that when the contest was held, the representatives of the PL in the commission gave low grades to Viorel Chetraru, while the Lib-Dems gave high grades to him. “They gave him grades of ‘8’ and ‘9’. An institution that was ready to beat somebody in order to defend their party leader is no longer convenient because it now started to investigate cases that they do not like,” he stated. Democratic MP Igor Corman said that immediately after investigations were launched, there appeared accusations that the NAC was a political instrument. “I’m not a jurist, but I understand that the Anticorruption Center that fights corruption must investigate cases and send them to court. It does not pass judgments. The cases will be transparent. They don’t do want they want,” stated Igor Corman. Anticorruption officers performed inspections on February 15, when Parliament held its first sitting of the spring-summer session. As a result of the distribution of posts based on the AEI agreement, the position of CCCEC director went to the PDM, while of director of the Main State Tax Inspectorate to the PLDM. After the CCCEC was reorganized into the NAC, Viorel Chetraru was reelected as director on a contest basis.