Dragalin on the SCJ Decision: Final Judgements Must Be Respected and Applied

In justice, irrevocable judgements must be respected and applied, otherwise, we do not live in a state of law. It is the reaction of the head of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office Veronica Dragalin to the fact that the Supreme Court of Justice cancelled 21 decisions of the Pre-Vetting Commission on the non-nomination of candidates for the positions in Superior Council of Magistrates and High Council of Prosecutors. Dragalin’s reaction came after President Maia Sandu had said that the decisions of the SCJ to cancel the decisions of the electoral commission were “illegal”. The chief prosecutor of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office says that the decisions of the SCJ in the case of 21 candidates for the SCM and HCP must be respected. According to Veronica Dragalin, in a state of law there are irrevocable court decisions. “We are prosecutors and we work in the justice system. Even if there are things we disagree with, if the law allows us to challenge any decision that we think is wrong, we challenge it. But if we have exhausted all possibilities and come to an irrevocable decision, then we are obliged to abide it. Otherwise, we do not live in a state of law. We also have cases in which we disagree with the court of first instance, which acquitted someone, then we can refer to the Appeals Chamber. But beyond that, if we come to an irrevocable judgement, then we have to respect it and apply. The compliance of reasoned judgements is important for me. After all, the law allows the Supreme Court to analyze the process applied by the Pre-Vetting Commission and to issue conclusions,” Veronica Dragalin said on the programme “Puterea a Patra” on the N4 TV channel. Veronica Dragalin’s statements differ from those of the authorities. After the Supreme Court’s judgements to cancel the decisions of the Pre-Vetting Commission, Prime Minister Dorin Recean called the judges of the SCJ a “corrupt minority”. At the same time, President Maia Sandu qualified the decisions of the Supreme Court as “illegal”. Veronica Dragalin said that the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office is a separate structure that may have a different vision than the authorities. On 1 August, the SCJ cancelled 21 decisions on the refusal to nominate candidates for the positions in the SCM and HSP. Angela Popil, Vladislav Holban, Alexei Panis, Anatolie Ghirbu, Veronica Cupcea, Alexandru Rotari, Stanislav Sorbalo, Valentin Caisin, Ion Chirtoaca, Vitalie Codreanu, Vitalie Stratan, Angela Bostan, Aureliu Postica, Victor Sandu, Nicolae Sova, Aliona Miron, Cristina Gladcov, Tatiana Chiriac, Ecaterina Buzu, Mihail Busuleac and Sergiu Osoianu are listed in this decision. The Supreme Court of Justice ordered the Pre-Vetting Commission to reassess them.