Veronica Dragalin has resigned as chief prosecutor of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office. She announced her decision on Facebook on Wednesday, February 19. Dragalin stated that she had already submitted her resignation letter to Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu. “I can no longer remain in office,” she added, arguing that the proposed legislation to eliminate specialized prosecutor’s offices threatens judicial independence.
“In recent days, I have reached a difficult and painful conclusion: the very foundation of our anti-corruption efforts is now under serious threat. The bill proposed by 29 members of Parliament to dissolve the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office is an attack on the justice system. This law undermines our progress, compromises judicial independence, and weakens our country’s ability to hold those in power accountable for breaking the law.
Dear members of Parliament, I urge you to carefully consider this decision’s consequences. Eliminating the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office will have severe and dangerous implications for the rule of law in the Republic of Moldova and the European path enshrined in our Constitution. As elected officials, you must uphold the Constitution. By approving this law, you say justice can be manipulated for political reasons. You are telling all prosecutors and young people who aspire to enter this profession that those who take on immense responsibilities can be removed or demoted at will. You are signaling to Moldovans in the diaspora that returning home is not worthwhile.
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It is not too late to change course in the fight against high-level corruption. I implore you to think about the citizens we all serve, to protect the progress we have made, and to vote against this bill. Your vote on this matter will determine the future of our country, and history will judge whether you choose to defend justice or undermine it in this critical moment.
I cannot, in good conscience, continue as chief prosecutor of the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office, knowing that the work we have done and the results we have achieved—modest as they may be—could be undone by a law that will make it more difficult, if not impossible, to investigate high-level corruption. This bill is not just an attack on an institution or an individual; it is an attack on the core values our society holds dear.
Today, I submitted my resignation letter to the Prosecutor General, hoping that this legislative initiative will not move forward. The fight for integrity, accountability, and transparency must continue. I trust in the courage of those who remain committed to this cause. Our work does not end here,” Dragalin said.
The resignation comes as PAS lawmakers introduce a bill to merge the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office (PA) with the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), creating a new institution—the Anticorruption and Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office (PACCO). The head of this new entity, along with several deputies, will be appointed by Prosecutor General Ion Munteanu. Parliamentary consultations will follow, involving representatives from the General Prosecutor’s Office, the Superior Council of Prosecutors, the Ministry of Justice, and other stakeholders to find the best solutions. Justice Minister Veronica Mihailov-Moraru has not ruled out seeking an opinion from the Venice Commission on the PACCO’s creation.
The General Prosecutor’s Office has expressed reservations about the proposed reform. In a press statement, officials noted that a preliminary bill analysis identified “short-, medium-, and long-term risks.” The Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office also criticized the proposal, warning that “the law poses a threat to national security, as it will lead to increased crime, including high-level corruption and organized crime.”
Public speculation has suggested that dissolving the Anticorruption Prosecutor’s Office is intended to remove Veronica Dragalin from her leadership role. Previously, Dragalin revealed that a political actor from the ruling party had attempted to influence cases under the office’s jurisdiction. She made these statements on the Rezoomat show on RLIVE TV on Tuesday, February 11, 2025. Furthermore, government officials have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Dragalin’s performance.