The Ministry of Justice announces that, today, July 1, 2020, the Government of the Republic of Moldova submitted to the Constitutional Court the draft Law on amending certain provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Moldova.
The draft law on amending the constitutional provisions with reference to the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) is one of the priorities of the Ad-hoc Working Group of the Council of Europe on justice reform in the Republic of Moldova.
The draft law was discussed and drafted following several rounds of consultations held in the first part of the 2020 year on the platform of the Council of Europe Ad-hoc Working Group. In the consultation process took part SCM’ representatives, political parties and civil society. At the same time, the draft law was adjusted according to Common Opinions of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) and of the Directorate-General for Human Rights and the Rule of Law of the Council of Europe of 20 March and 19 June 2020 (No 983/2020 and the supplementary opinion adopted at its meeting of 19 June 2020 (CDL-AD (2020) 007), acting as observers representing the European Union and the United States of America.
The draft submitted to the Constitutional Court is the adjusted version, agreed by all participants in the consultation process regarding limiting the immunity of judges, unifying the way of appointment of judges, canceling the initial term of appointment of judges, also regarding the composition of the Superior Council of Magistracy.
In this context, the Ministry of Justice expresses its gratitude to the Council of Europe for its continued support in strengthening the rule of law, as well as to all participants in the extended public consultation process.