Chisinau Appeals Court judge Anatol Pahopol, who is a substitute member of the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM), will serve as acting president of the Council. This became possible following the coming into force on May 26 of the new legal amendments that enable to fill the vacant posts of Council member from among judges with substitute members, IPN reports.
At the start of the SCM’s meeting, Council member Carolina Ciugureanu-Mihailuță proposed introducing the transfer of Anatol Pahopol from the Chisinau Appeals Court to the Council in the agenda. Eleven SCM members voted in favor of the transfer, while two – Dorel Musteață and Nina Cernat – voted against.
Under the legislation, the post of acting president is held by the eldest judge member. This way, Anatol Pahopol became acting president instead of judge Luiza Gafton.
On May 22, the SCM on its website published a press release, saying that Anatol Pahopol tendered his resignation from the post of substitute member of the SCM elected from among judges at the start of last August. At the General Assembly of Judges on September 27, 2019, a group of judges made attempts to remove the judge members of the SCM and the group included judge Pahopol. “He took part in the Assembly of September 27, 2019 where he voted for his dismissal from the post of substitute member of the SCM. Therefore, he does not have the moral right to work as a member of the SCM with such a mandate.”
PAS leader Maia Sandu reacted, saying Igor Dodon during 11 months had tried to take the SCM under control and finally managed to. “By an illegal procedure earlier today, Igor Dodon managed to promote judge Anatolie Pahopol as a member and even as the acting president of the Superior Council of Magistracy. This person loyal to the corrupt rules inclines the balances and enables Igor Dodon to control the decisions of the Superior Council of Magistracy,” the former Premier posted on Facebook.
Anatol Pahopol was elected substitute member of the SCM at the General Assembly of Judges of October 20, 2017. He earlier held the post of acting president of the Chisinau Appeals Court.
