Minister of Justice Sergiu Litivinenco denied the assertion that Natalia Moloșag obtained the post of ombudsperson because she was a lawyer for President Maia Sandu. Litvinenco said the balance was inclined in favor of Moloșag by her professionalism and uprightness. Moreover, Litvinenco does not consider abnormal the appointment of PAS candidate in the local elections of 2019 Angelica Caraman as president of the Central Election Commission, IPN reports.
Sergiu Litivinenco said Natalia Moloșag was named ombudsperson for human rights as a result of a transparent contest and the appointment decision was taken by Parliament.
“She is a renowned human rights defender. A contest was held. The commission chose two candidates who were both worthy. But we have one post of ombudsperson and this candidate was selected. The person’s experience and fame are the most important aspects,” Sergiu Litvinenco stated in the talk show “Fourth Power” on N4 channel.
He said the fact that Moloșag was the lawyer for Maia Sandu didn’t influence the voting process in Parliament. He noted he can accept the criticism leveled by civil society after the director of Promo-Lex Ion Manole described the vote in favor of Natalia Moloșag as exclusively political.
“She defended Missis Sandu in the election campaign, not in particular criminal cases, when Missis Sandu ran as an electoral contender, exactly as she represented many other persons in her career. She represented the young people who were ill-treated on April 7. I saw all the criticism and I accept it. But it was a meritocracy test in this case and one of the two candidates passed it,” stated Litvinenco.
Moreover, he said the appointment of Angelica Caraman, who is close to PAS, as CEC president is not against the legislation. The CEC president is elected by the members of the Commission.
“The person named secretary of state at the Ministry of Justice is not a party member and I can bring many such examples. We are trying to identify professionals, but also analyze the integrity and consider their accomplishments. The principle and values are more important,” said the minister.
As ombudswoman for children’s right, Natalia Moloșag will be a member of the Superior Council of Prosecutors, which will decide the fate of the current Prosecutor General Alexandr Stoianoglo. Moloșag was named ombudswoman with 57 votes of MP for a seven-year term.
