Only 38% of Moldovan judges pass vetting as reform enters final stages
The Moldovan Vetting Commission has announced it is prepared to maintain the momentum of external integrity evaluations throughout 2026, despite fluctuating candidate numbers.
Commission Chair Andrei Bivol estimates approximately 100 candidates will undergo scrutiny this year, marking the final phase of the judicial vetting process.
Success rates and integrity benchmarks
Recent data reveals a rigorous filtering process within the judiciary. Since the start of the vetting initiative, the Commission has investigated 185 subjects. Of these, 103 evaluations were completed, while 65 individuals chose to resign or withdraw rather than face the integrity check.
Only 64 judges—representing 38% of those verified—successfully met the Commission’s strict ethical and financial integrity standards. This high failure and resignation rate highlights the depth of the reform currently reshaping the Moldovan legal landscape.
Progress across the appellate courts
During 2025, the Commission finalized evaluations for all sitting judges within the three Courts of Appeal. The body also cleared all candidates proposed by the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) for vacancies in these institutions.
The Centru Court of Appeal evaluation, which began in 2024, concluded last year with 18 sitting judges and seven re-evaluations. In the North and South Courts of Appeal, the process led to significant turnover; out of 23 notified judges, only eight completed the full evaluation, while the remainder resigned.
Filling the judicial vacuum
The judiciary currently faces a deficit of roughly 100 vacant positions. The most critical shortages are found in the Courts of Appeal (60 vacancies), specialized anti-corruption panels (15), and the Supreme Court of Justice (13).
“We estimate there are at least 100 positions for which we must evaluate candidates to ensure a positive report and fill the gaps,” stated Andrei Bivol. While the evaluation of judges is slated for completion by the end of 2026, the vetting of prosecutors is expected to continue until 2027.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
