Hearing of Vitalie Budeci, candidate for the position of judge at the Central Court of Appeal

Judge Vitalie Budeci from the Chișinău Court is running for a position at the Central Court of Appeal and was publicly interviewed as part of the external evaluation provided for by Law No. 252/2023. The public hearing gives the candidate the opportunity to respond to integrity concerns identified by the Commission following its checks.

The case was examined by Panel B of the Commission, composed of Scott Bales, Willem Brouwer, and Iurie Gațcan. They requested explanations regarding possible inexplicable wealth in 2013, 2018, and 2019, including undeclared donations from family members, international transfers, and cash savings. They also sought clarifications about the judge’s involvement in a case that may have violated the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Following the hearing, the Panel will adopt a report with the established facts, reasons, and its recommendation on whether the evaluation is passed or failed. The result will be published, and the report will be sent to the Superior Council of Magistracy.

Following the hearing, the panel will approve a report outlining the relevant facts, the rationale, and the recommendation on whether the subject has successfully passed the evaluation. The outcome of the evaluation will be made public, and the report will be submitted to the Superior Council of Magistracy.

⭕️ For hearings conducted under Law No. 252/2023, the six members of the Commission have been divided into two panels of three members each, referred to as Panel A and Panel B. Each panel includes both national and international members.

📜The external extraordinary evaluation is carried out based on the following principles:

a) independence of the Evaluation Commission;

b) fairness of the evaluation procedure;

c) publicity of the acts issued in the evaluation process;

d) exceptional nature of the evaluation.

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