---
title: "Moldova tightens vetting rules for constitutional judges"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/85239/moldova-tightens-vetting-rules-for-constitutional-judges
published: 2026-09-16T16:00:00Z
language: en
author: "Elena Munteanu"
section: "Justice"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Moldova tightens vetting rules for constitutional judges

> The Moldovan government endorsed legislative amendments on Wednesday to establish transparent and competitive selection rules for Constitutional Court judges, aligning national judicial appointments with Venice Commission recommendations and European rule-of-law standards.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/704c8e9f-cc8f-4109-8dad-b13f3c3b8139.jpg)

The Moldovan government endorsed legislative amendments on Wednesday to establish transparent and competitive selection rules for Constitutional Court judges, aligning national judicial appointments with Venice Commission recommendations and European rule-of-law standards.

Under the draft legislation, candidate resumes will be made public, while formal interviews, civil society consultations, and rigorous integrity vetting will become mandatory procedural stages for all future magistrates.

**Aligning with European standards**

The initiative was formulated by Veronica Roșca, chairwoman of Parliament's Legal Committee for Appointments and Immunities, and received the cabinet's formal positive endorsement during its Wednesday session.

*“The draft aims to establish a transparent, competitive, and clearly structured framework for selecting Constitutional Court candidates, so national legislation aligns with Venice Commission recommendations,”* Justice Minister Vladislav Cojuhari said during the cabinet meeting.

The approved mechanism sets explicit stages, ranging from the official announcement of competitions to the publication of final results, ensuring public access to eligibility criteria and candidate background information.

**Preventing judicial vacancies**

To ensure institutional continuity and avoid bench vacancies, selection and appointment calendars will be legally synchronised. Appointment procedures must now begin three months prior to the expiration of a sitting magistrate's tenure.

The overall timeframe for conducting the selection process has been expanded from 45 days to three months. The additional window guarantees sufficient time to carry out comprehensive integrity checks and public hearings.

Moldova's Constitutional Court consists of six judges serving six-year mandates. The seats are allocated equally, with two judges appointed by Parliament, two by the Government, and two by the Superior Council of Magistracy.

Under the updated provisions, each appointing authority must publicly announce competitions, detailed eligibility criteria, and submission deadlines. The Court is currently composed of Court President Domnica Manole and Judges Liuba Șova, Nicolae Roșca, Viorica Puica, Ion Malanciuc, and Sergiu Litvinenco.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**

***
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