Stamate: The PACCO Draft Law Unlikely to Pass the Second Reading

Independent MP Olesea Stamate believes that the draft law on the creation of the new specialized institution PACCO, which provides for the merger of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office with the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime, is unlikely to be adopted in its final form. According to the deputy, the appointment of the head of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, Marcel Dumbravan, against the backdrop of the draft law on PACCO already being adopted in the first reading, may indicate that the document will not proceed to the second reading, reports rupor.md. “I can’t explain it any other way except with the simple argument that this draft law is most likely not going to be adopted in the second reading. That would be logical,” said Stamate. She emphasized that if the authorities had truly planned to merge the institutions, they should have expedited the adoption of the law before the completion of the competition for the position of Chief Prosecutor. The MP also expressed doubt about the government’s statement that the draft law was sent for review to the Venice Commission. According to her, the draft is not on the agenda of the Commission’s upcoming session, which will take place on Friday and Saturday. Stamate suggested that the document may have been sent to the European Commission for consultation but believes it may have been done only formally. It should be recalled that the law on the establishment of the specialized prosecution office was adopted in the first reading on February 20 of this year with the votes of 61 members of parliament. The initiative came from a group of deputies from the Action and Solidarity Party faction and was developed following the meeting of the Supreme Security Council on January 20, 2025. In turn, the General Prosecutor’s Office expressed its concerns regarding the draft law. In a press release, representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office stated that, following a preliminary analysis of the project, “short-term, medium-term, and long-term risks were identified.” The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office also criticized the proposed law, stating that “it poses a danger, as it will lead to an increase in crime, including high-level corruption and organized crime.” Moreover, Justice Minister Veronica Mihailov-Moraru has already stated that she does not rule out the possibility of requesting an opinion from the Venice Commission regarding the establishment of PACCO.