Minister of Justice Veronica Mihailov-Moraru stated that President Maia Sandu’s comments about applying a vetting process to lawyers represent a political statement rather than a legal initiative.
Speaking at a press conference summarizing her ministry’s activity, Mihailov-Moraru emphasized that law practice is a liberal profession governed by its own organizational rules.
“I believe the Presidency expressed a political message. The evaluation procedure applies to judges and prosecutors. We must understand that law practice is a liberal profession and follows different rules regarding organization. This doesn’t mean that the legal field doesn’t need measures to improve transparency in the admission process or to ensure effective disciplinary accountability when violations occur,” the minister said.
President Maia Sandu had earlier called for ethical and financial integrity checks for lawyers during an interview on “Realitatea te priveste” on Rlive TV. Her remarks sparked strong reactions from legal professionals, who argued that the legal profession is autonomous and self-financed, and that any external vetting process could undermine its independence.