Antimafia leader criticizes Filat for backing down on Justice Reform Council

Sergiu Mocanu, the leader of the Antimafia Movement, is criticizing PM Vlad Filat for being “a coward” in giving up plans of creating a governmental body to address justice reform issues, and letting Parliament create one instead. Mocanu told a press conference on Wednesday that he was appalled to find the newly created National Council for the Reform of Law Enforcement Bodies being “actually controlled” from the post of deputy chairman by Democrat Vlad Plahotniuc, a controversial businessman. “This Council is toothless and is incapable of any reform. The sole purpose of its existence is to show to those in the law enforcement bodies who's in charge”, declared Sergiu Mocanu. “This Council brought together all the members of Plahotniuc's corrupt octopus (…) If Plahotniuc, Muruinau and Zubco are those who came to reform our justice, then this country is certainly on the path towards a revolution that will overthrow this regime which is unable to reform”. He further criticized Vlad Filat for instructing Justice Minister Oleg Efrim to request Plahotniuc's replacement on the Council, instead of doing the job himself. “Vlad Filat should have done it. What happened is an extremely bad thing and the consequences will be rather adverse for Moldova if Plahotniuc continues to control the reform in the area of justice”. Mocanu said that after the local elections in June, his Antimafia Movement would stage protests to popularize the concerns. The National Council for the Reform of Law Enforcement Bodies was established by decree of acting President Marian Lupu on May 19.