Draft on PACCO creation poses multiple risks that could seriously affect the fight against corruption and organized crime, experts
The draft law on the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the Fight against Organized Crime (PACCO) does not provide effective solutions for combating corruption and organized crime and requires significant improvements. This is the conclusion of the Justice Experts Group (GEJ), which analyzed the legislative initiative. According to the experts, the draft does not solve the bottlenecks in the investigation and trial of criminal cases. Moreover, its promotion in Parliament without a detailed analysis and without consulting the relevant institutions raises questions about its effectiveness.
“In its current form, the draft has multiple deficiencies and risks that could seriously affect the fight against corruption and organized crime. To avoid these problems, a thorough revision of the text is necessary, based on extensive consultations, impact studies and clear transition planning. Its hasty adoption could generate institutional chaos and affect the Republic of Moldova’s capacity to combat corruption and organized crime,” the experts warn.
In this regard, the GEJ recommends organizing extensive public consultations before the final adoption of the law, requesting the opinion of the Venice Commission and other relevant international bodies, in particular the European Commission, and conducting an impact analysis on the institutions concerned and the prosecution system in general. It is also necessary to clarify the budgetary impact and establish a clear mechanism for the transfer of prosecutors and auxiliary staff to avoid blockages in the investigation of cases.
We would like to point out that today, a new round of public consultations was organized in Parliament, during which representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Superior Council of Prosecutors (CSP), the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and the Prosecutor's Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS) drew attention to the risks and proposed several solutions to avoid potential blockages.
We recall that the draft law on the set up of the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office and Combating Organized Crime (PACCO) was approved in first reading, on January 20, only a week after it was registered in Parliament. The project was supported by 61 deputies of the majority of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), the opposition voting against.
