Prosecutor General Seeks Guarantees Having No Desire to Suffer Stoianoglo’s Fate

‘Unfortunately, at the moment, there are not enough safeguards for the Attorney General when it comes to the duties and responsibilities of the position. However, today we are talking about the fact that a simple majority of 5 members of the Supreme Council of Prosecutors can remove the Prosecutor General. And today in the Council the majority does not belong to prosecutors. This is a loophole in the law and, in my opinion, the legislature should take this into account and provide safeguards commensurate with the duties and competences of the Prosecutor General Office. It is unacceptable that the stability of the position of Attorney General depends on five members of the Council who are not necessarily prosecutors. The initiation of a criminal investigation takes place after the appointment by a simple Council’s majority of a prosecutor, regardless of seniority, who has the right to examine alleged criminal acts committed by the Prosecutor General and by simple vote. The initiation of a criminal investigation is the basis to remove the Prosecutor General from office,’ Ion Munteanu explained. Besides, the new head of the Prosecutor General’s Office has no confidence that he will be able to complete his seven-year mandate. ‘A seven-year term is indeed very long, perhaps even too long. I do not know for sure whether I will fulfil this mandate to the end, but I have opportunities and I believe that I am effective in the system. I will do my best to develop the potential of the Prosecutor’s Office,’ the Prosecutor General added.