Maia Sandu says justice reform is mostly complete but criticizes slow progress at the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office
President Maia Sandu claims that most of the justice reform has already been completed. In an interview conducted in Russian with journalist Ivan Sviatchenko, she stated that the majority of judges have undergone evaluations of their ethical and financial integrity. Now, the results of their work should be evident.
When discussing the integrity assessment of judges, it is noteworthy that most of them have already undergone this process, which is a positive outcome. This suggests that we should begin to see the results of their work.
In contrast, the head of state said that the vetting process for the prosecutor's office is just starting, and progress in combating corruption has been slow. Maia Sandu criticized the lack of advancement in reforming the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and directly addressed the failures of the previous leadership.
“The only thing I have consistently requested from everyone is tangible results in the fight against corruption. This is not only my request but also a demand from the citizens of our country. Unfortunately, Mrs. Dragalin was unable to reform the prosecutor's office, despite her promises. Additionally, she did not support the vetting process.”
In light of recent information regarding specific lists of individuals to be evaluated by the Vetting Commission, Maia Sandu clarified that there were never any discussions about who could or could not pass the evaluation. Instead, discussions focused on the potential risks of obstructing the activities of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.
“There was a conversation where I was informed that the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office might not be able to function due to the vetting process, which could block serious corruption cases. Consequently, there was a proposal to initiate the evaluation with those individuals working on significant cases. However, there was never any discussion regarding the evaluation outcomes. The issue remains that we have seen very few results, and the necessary cleaning of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has not been conducted over the years. Of course, the process should continue until completion. Had it been cleaned up properly, we would not be in a situation where individuals connected to Șor are still working within the prosecutor's office.”
We recall that earlier this week, a letter purportedly signed by Veronica Dragalin was released by anti-corruption expert Cristina Ciubotaru. In the document, Dragalin claimed that both Maia Sandu and Prime Minister Dorin Recean had requested a list of prosecutors for vetting promotion. She declined, citing concerns about the potential political misuse of such a list. Following the letter's publication, the Presidency condemned the accusations as fake and regrettable, reiterating that the purpose of the vetting process is to eliminate corruption and promote integrity within the justice system. Prime Minister Dorin Recean also dismissed the allegations, with Government Spokesperson Daniel Vodă stating that Dragalin's claims represent a "serious lie."
