The Pre-Vetting Commission announces on Friday 25 August that it has finalised the evaluation of the second group of non-judge candidates submitted by Parliament for membership of the Superior Council of Magistracy (SCM) and has sent its final decisions. According to the Commission, candidate Leonid Chirtoaca meets the integrity criteria and passes the evaluation. Candidate Nicolae Agachi does not meet the integrity criteria and did not pass the assessment.

“Details of the outcome of the assessment are contained in the reasoned decisions, which will be made public only with the consent of the candidates,” the Pre-Vetting Commission states.

The two candidates must therefore notify the Commission whether they accept or oppose the publication of the decisions within 48 hours. In the absence of notification, the decisions will be placed on the Commission’s website in a depersonalised form in Romanian and English. According to the provisions of Law no. 26/2022, any decision may be appealed to the Supreme Court of Justice within 5 days of receipt.

Of the nine candidates with professional experience in law or other relevant field included in the list sent to the Commission by the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Appointments and Immunities on 5 May 2023, eight have passed the full integrity assessment process to become eligible for membership of the SJC, and one has withdrawn from the competition, failing the assessment.

Following the assessment of the eight remaining candidates in the competition, six passed the assessment and two candidates did not pass the assessment because they did not meet the financial and ethical integrity criteria.

The Commission heard candidates Aliona Corcenco, Veaceslav Gutan, Vitalie Sili, Lucia Popescu, Ana Tipa, Iulian Muntean, Leonid Chirtoaca and Nicolae Agachi from 14 to 21 July, while candidate Vanu Jereghi withdrew from the competition during the evaluation process.