Foreign Policy Newsletter 03/241, March 2026: Justice reform: one step forward, two steps back

The March edition of the Foreign Policy Bulletin examines the justice reform and the fight against corruption in the Republic of Moldova, navigating between necessity, political risks, and implementation challenges. Alexandr Berlinschii, MP in the Parliament of Republic of Moldova, emphasizes that the reform remains essential but is partially compromised by the lack of broad political consensus and certain controversial appointments that could politicize the process. Furthermore, former Minister of Justice and former President of the Constitutional Court, Alexandru Tănase, notes that although the reform has removed toxic groups from the system, over time it has become excessively politicized and insufficiently communicated, limiting public understanding and support. At the same time, anti-corruption expert Mariana Kalughin highlights the risks of political influence on the reform, stressing that tools such as vetting and PACCO, if not properly managed, could undermine judicial independence rather than strengthen it. Last but not least, journalist Mariana Rață points out in the newsletter’s editorial that some recent reforms were rushed and non-transparent, and process-related missteps—from the Hebel case to PACCO initiatives—affect the credibility of the entire effort.

Read the full version of the bulletin HERE.