SPEAKER CANDU REFUTES "ANY INSINUATIONS" ABOUT NIO CONTEST

Moldovan Parliament Chairman Andrian Candu categorically rejects any insinuations about an alleged interference into the organization of the contest for the post of Director of the National Integrity Organ, the Parliament's official website wrote today.

According to it, "Mr. Candu maintains that the Moldovan Parliament is interested in NIO's becoming a fully functional body as soon as only possible, so that to root out corruption for a success of the country's European path and development".

The Speaker reminded to journalists: "I stated in the public that quite weak candidates had been registered for the contest, in particular Mr. Teodor Carnat, a Member of the Superior Council of Magistrates. But my opinion did not coincide with that of the contest organizers' who gave grades to him. And I comprehend very well his disappointment now".

In his words, the governing coalition demonstrated "a firm political will and courage" at voting for the package of integrity-related laws, including the Law on Testing Professional Integrity adopted in 2017".

The Speaker stressed that no matter how difficult it will be to find a person with a spotless reputation, highly respected and trusted by the professional community and the civil society - the qualities necessary to have to hold such a sensitive post, "all the same such people are available in the country and they will necessarily apply for this position".

As already reported by Infotag, last Monday both of the selected candidates for the NIO Head - a NIO Member Victor Stratila and Superior Council of Magistrates Member Teodor Carnat, a Moldova State University professor of law, failed their tests on the lie detector, which was the final stage of the selection contest. On the following day, Teodor Carnat stated that the lie detector test was but a fiction and that he was honest in his answers. On the same day he resigned from the Superior Council of Magistrates.

Infotag's dossier: The National Integrity Organ is a body checking the annual statements of income and property submitted by state officials and deputies of the Moldovan Parliament. The Organ was founded in 2016 from the National Anti-Corruption Commission that was a stating body not eligible to apply sanctions against state officials. The National Integrity Organ will have 30 inspectors having an independent status. They will be not only stating violations and demanding explanations, but will also be applying sanctions in case of need, addressing to the court and confiscating the personal property. The NIO Head is appointed for a 5-year term of office on the basis of a public contest.