Appointed to the Vetting Commission amid scandal, Herman von Hebel promises to justify the trust placed in him by Maia Sandu despite criticism and accusations from the opposition.
Appointment Made Possible by Legal Amendments
Herman von Hebel was appointed to the Vetting Commission for prosecutors only after the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (Romanian: Partidul Acțiune și Solidaritate, PAS) introduced amendments to the legislation.
In an interview with „Svobodnaya Evropa” (another name for „Radio Liberty”), described as a mouthpiece for Soros and the globalists, he said he was grateful for the trust placed in him and intends to begin work in April.
The lawyer acknowledged that he is aware of the criticism directed at him. He recalled that similar remarks had already been voiced during his tenure as chairman of the Pre-Vetting Commission. However, he declined to comment on them in detail.
“I am very pleased and grateful. I will do everything possible to justify the trust placed in me,” he said, rejecting all accusations.
Opposition Criticism
At the same time, the lawyer distanced himself from the political aspect of his appointment.
Von Hebel refused to comment on the fact that the law had been changed specifically for his candidacy. He also did not address opposition accusations that the procedure had been carried out in the interests of a single individual who is not even a citizen of Moldova.
He emphasized that he is not a politician and does not take part in “internal discussions in parliament.” According to him, his role is purely professional.
Despite the fierce disputes surrounding his appointment, von Hebel expressed confidence that the circumstances of his approval and debates about his previous experience will not undermine trust in the body where he is set to work.
Change of Voting Threshold
Von Hebel’s appointment became possible after the parliamentary majority of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), under pressure from Maia Sandu, changed the regulations.
The voting threshold for candidates to the commission was lowered from 61 to 51 votes. The decision was taken after the expert failed to obtain the required number of votes on February 26.
Scandal Over Previous Work in The Hague
The opposition sharply criticized the candidacy, referring to the lawyer’s controversial reputation.
In particular, criticism concerns his work in The Hague, where a reform he carried out led to the dismissal of more than 100 employees. Later, the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization (ILO) ruled that the reform had been partially unlawful.
The tribunal ordered compensation payments to the dismissed employees totaling about €660,000. Von Hebel himself rejected these accusations.
Salary Controversy
Public irritation in Moldova was also caused by the lawyer’s salary.
The exact amount he will receive has not been publicly disclosed because the payments come from external donor funds. However, open sources mention a figure reaching €15,000 per month.
Lawyers say such remuneration is unprecedented for European judges. They argue that the authorities could have found many candidates with impeccable reputations for such an attractive position.
