Maia Sandu: "Justice reform is halfway through; it’s vital to continue"
The justice reform process is currently halfway complete, and it is crucial to continue and finalize the extraordinary external evaluation of judges and prosecutors, stated President Maia Sandu during an interview on Cinema 1 TV. She noted that there have already been improvements in the justice system, with some judges making sound decisions in corruption cases. However, she emphasized the need for more courageous magistrates.
"It is crucial to ensure continuity in this reform because we have reached a halfway point, and it would be a great shame not to complete it. Almost a third of judges have left the system, and this reform will also improve the prosecutor's office. I see that changes are occurring, particularly regarding high-level corruption cases, and progress is being made. However, I believe this progress is too slow compared to our expectations and the realities we are facing," said Maia Sandu.
Regarding the recent wave of departures from the prosecutor's office and the judicial system, Maia Sandu suggested that one reason could be that some individuals do not want their assets verified. Others may also have different reasons for not wanting to go through this process. According to her, young professionals should replace those who leave the system, and she encouraged graduates of the National Institute of Justice to become honest prosecutors and judges.
"We can speculate that some individuals do not want their assets to be verified, but there are likely others with various reasons for avoiding this process. We are not facing a collapse; rather, we all want assurance that only honest people work in the prosecutor's office and in the courts. This is the only way to achieve that certainty—when individuals can demonstrate the legality or lawful origin of their assets," the president explained.
Several prosecutors and judges have recently submitted resignation requests. Dumitru Obadă, the president of the Superior Council of Prosecutors, noted that this recent wave of resignations could impact the institution's functioning and pose risks of dysfunction within the PCCOCS.
We'd like to remind you that prosecutors and judges who fail the integrity test are dismissed from their positions and barred from holding public office or serving in the judicial system for 5 to 7 years.
