After Rama’s invitation to sit at the table, judges respond

Hours after Prime Minister Edi Rama invited justice institution leaders to a dialogue table on magistrates’ salaries, the four main organizations of the justice system chose a different path: battle at the Constitutional Court.

The Union of Judges of Albania, the National Association of Judges, the Association of Prosecutors and the Forum of Women Judges announced they will seek the immediate suspension of the law adopted at the midnight marathon session, its annulment as unconstitutional and priority review of the case.

In a joint statement, the magistrates’ organizations describe the entire parliamentary process as tainted by constitutional violations. According to them, the bill was adopted beyond the constitutional deadline, without a financial analysis by the Council of Ministers, without effective consultation with stakeholders and with immediate entry into force.

They argue the law does not only affect salaries, but undermines the independence of the justice system and, according to them, contradicts a previous decision of the Constitutional Court.

The associations also reject the interpretation that the conflict is about financial interests, stressing that their battle is about respect for Constitutional Court decisions, guaranteeing magistrates’ independence and protecting the rule of law.

“With the same urgency with which the law was reviewed, adopted and decreed, we will turn to the Constitutional Court,” the statement says.

This reaction comes on the same day Rama called on judiciary institution leaders to sit in dialogue to find a solution, turning the magistrates’ salary clash into a conflict expected to move to the Constitutional Court.