Parliament to Appoint New Vetting Member Amid Scandal
A new member of the Vetting Commission could be appointed by Parliament on May 30, according to Veronica Roșca, the president of the Parliamentary Legal Commission.
The deputy avoided revealing the name of the person who will be proposed for a vote by the Legislature. Veronica Roșca also mentioned that next week, the members of the legal commission will prepare a list of questions to be addressed to the head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office regarding the case of Tatiana Răducanu.
"I hope that in the May 30 meeting, we will succeed in appointing a new member of the vetting commission. During the legal commission's meeting, when another member of the vetting commission is appointed, certain questions will be presented to avoid future issues. The members of the legal commission have the right to formulate questions and obtain answers from the concerned institution - the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office. It is clear that deputies can also make political statements," said Veronica Roșca.
On May 14, Parliament accepted the resignation of Tatiana Răducanu from her position as a member of the external evaluation commissions for judges and prosecutors. Commenting on the scandal surrounding the Vetting and Pre-vetting Commissions, Igor Grosu stated that *"this is yet another attempt by prosecutors and judges who did not pass or understand that they have no chance of passing the evaluation process, to attack the Evaluation Commission. I assure them that the Commission will continue its work and the evaluation process will proceed. (...) I encourage honest prosecutors and judges to move forward confidently; those who cannot justify their wealth, lands, or houses, that's it. Guys, change your occupation," * stated Igor Grosu.
Tatiana Răducanu, a member of the Pre-vetting and Vetting Commissions, targeted in a criminal process initiated by the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office, decided to resign from these positions "to preserve her dignity and the status of a resigning judge," but also to prevent the escalation of this controversy. In a letter sent to the press, she states that vetting in justice is a reform that must continue and is the most effective method to remove compromised individuals from this field.
Tatiana Răducanu announced her resignation from the Pre-Vetting Commission and the Vetting Commission for prosecutors, following a letter leaked to the press, in which the head of the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office (PA) suspects her, in the context of a criminal investigation, of having connections and acting in the interests of fugitives Ilan Șor and Veaceslav Platon.
Confirming the authenticity of the letter, the head of the PA, Veronica Dragalin, stated that the purpose was to prevent a risk to the justice system and not to discredit the evaluation procedures.
In turn, President Maia Sandu requests concrete evidence from the Anti Corruption Prosecutor's Office regarding the accusations against magistrate Tatiana Răducanu. Once conclusive evidence is presented, the Presidency could consider excluding the judge from her position as a member of the Supreme Security Council.
Despite this scandal, the Pre-Vetting Commission announced that it will continue its work and will complete the evaluation procedures, according to its legislative mandate.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
