Moldova Vetting: 39% of judges quit before integrity check
The Judges' Evaluation Commission in Moldova has notified 181 judges and candidates by the end of October. Strikingly, 63 of them, a figure representing 39%, have either resigned or withdrawn, opting to leave the system before undergoing the crucial vetting process.
In total, the Commission has concluded 99 evaluations. Sixty judges passed the judicial vetting, translating to an overall passing rate of 37%. The process also revealed significant integrity issues: almost one in four subjects (39 judges, or 24%) were flagged for lacking the necessary ethical and financial integrity.
The ongoing judicial reform in Moldova has focused heavily on senior bodies. For the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM), 19 of 35 candidates passed the external evaluation, while 11 received negative reports.
At the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ), 46 individuals (five judges and 41 candidates) were notified. Only 17 passed the vetting process, 14 failed, and three others remain under evaluation. Additionally, 11 individuals resigned or departed the system prior to their scheduled review.
The challenge of establishing rule of law is highlighted by a recent report noting that Justice and public procurement remain "problematic" areas for the country's EU accession path. The Courts of Appeal show the most pronounced resistance: 38 of the 76 notified subjects (including 63 judges) chose to resign or withdraw. So far, only 22 positive files exist for Court of Appeal judges.
Regarding first-level courts, 24 judges were notified; ten immediately resigned, two passed the vetting, and 11 files are pending.
Moldova’s vetting process, which began for judges in 2023 and for prosecutors this spring, is designed to purge the system of corrupt magistrates. The Prosecutors' Evaluation Commission has issued 33 reports to date, with half being positive, meaning 16 state prosecutors successfully passed the integrity vetting. The Government's program targets the finalization of these evaluations by the end of 2026.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
