Begaj: Magistrates’ integrity and professionalism will determine the success of justice

The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, attended the opening ceremony of the 2026-2027 academic year at the School of Magistrates, where he addressed the new generation of magistrates, candidates for prosecutors and judges, state advocates and assistant judges.

Begaj stressed the importance of the integrity and professionalism of the new generation of magistrates, saying that those values will determine the success of the reformed justice system at an important stage for Albania and its process of membership in the European Union.

“Your generation has a historic advantage: you are entering the justice system that the reform built. That also comes with added responsibility: you, with your integrity and professionalism, will make this system work effectively,” President Begaj said.

The head of state underlined that choosing the magistrate’s profession requires more than legal knowledge, stressing the importance of character, integrity, professional maturity and responsibility towards society.

“Your will, your commitment to values and your determination to serve justice are the readiness and the cornerstone for a just, principled, virtuous, peaceful and respectable society. You have chosen a profession that requires not only legal knowledge, but also character, integrity, professional maturity and a sense of responsibility towards society,” the head of state said.

Begaj said the lecture halls of the School of Magistrates should not be seen simply as places for acquiring professional knowledge, but also as an important stage of formation for the responsibility magistrates will bear in the justice system.

“You should not see and experience these lecture halls simply as places that will make you professionals, but as places that will form you as missionaries. A magistrate is not simply a specialist in the law, but a guarantor of the rights and freedoms of the individual and a defender of the constitutional order,” Begaj said.

The President also spoke about citizens’ trust in the justice system, describing it as one of the most important assets that must be won and preserved.

“The most precious asset of justice, which must be won, is trust: trust that every individual will be heard; that every claim will be examined impartially; that the law will be applied equally to everyone; that the power of justice will be exercised with the humility and responsibility that the rule of law requires,” the President said.

Speaking about the progress of the justice reform, Begaj praised the consolidation of the new institutions, stressing that the system has entered a new phase, that of results.

“The vetting process has been completed, the new justice institutions have been formed, while the Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime, together with the special courts, have created a new reality in the fight against impunity. Investigating and trying people with political, economic or social power is no longer something impossible. This is a key achievement for the rule of law, for Albania. Albanian justice has now entered a new phase: from reform to consolidation; from setting up institutions to their functioning; from expectations to results,” he said.

The head of state also stressed the importance of the independence of the judiciary, as one of the fundamental pillars of the rule of law.

“The independence of justice means a power independent of the other powers, a justice uninfluenced by any interest, a justice that is subject only to the law and to no one else,” Begaj said.

In the context of the European integration process, the President underlined that justice remains one of the most important fields for meeting the standards, stressing the need for justice that is not only fair, but also timely.

“Our challenge is for the quality of decision-making and effectiveness not to be seen as competing objectives, but as values that go together,” Begaj said.

In conclusion, the President of the Republic invited the new magistrates to carry out their mission with integrity, courage and dedication, in the service of justice, the rule of law and citizens.

Referring to the magistrates’ public oath, Begaj also recalled a quote by Lord Chief Justice Hewart:

“Justice must not only be done, but must also be clearly perceived and seen to be done, leaving no room for any doubt.”