Moldovan Socialists Push to Cut Powers of Asset Inspectorate

Eleven Socialist Party deputies signed a draft bill on Thursday designed to reduce the powers of the National Integrity Authority, the body which verifies the legality of assets and conflicts of interests among state employees.

Moldova is one of the worst affected countries in Europe by corruption, according to various international rankings, and the EU has repeatedly criticised a lack of political will to tackle this widespread phenomenon.

The draft law elaborated by the Socialists would cut the timeframe for verifying the assets of officials from three years to one and contains other amendments that substantially affect the activity of this institution. The law also waters down the disciplinary sanctions applied in case of violations of the legal regime.

The draft bill may pass the Moldovan parliament, as the Socialist Party, PSRM, has a majority. It last week adopted another five controversial laws that triggered protests in the capital Chisinau last Sunday. Earlier this week, parliament passed a bill transferring control of the intelligence agency from the president to parliament.

The National Integrity Authority itself has criticised the draft bill, arguing that the changes will damage its ability to enforce the law. Adoption of the law would "undermine the strengthening of the control mechanism of assets and interests, as well as the efficiency of the ANI's activity", it said.

The bill comes after some Socialists deputies complained that ANI inspectors were focusing only on their party members. One Socialist MP, Bogdan Tirdea, said the newly elected pro-European President of Moldova, Maia Sandu, "has control over ANI. I'll tell you why. The ANI was directed against PSRM deputies."

The Action and Solidarity Party, PAS...