Magistrates’ salaries: majority presents draft in Parliament, coefficient increase proposed

Socialist MPs Aulona Bylykbashi and Admir Kadeli propose raising the base reference salary coefficient for magistrates from 0.36 to 0.38 of the President’s salary. The initiative was presented to the Economy Commission, while the bill aims to change the way the base is set on which the salaries of judges and prosecutors at all levels of the justice system are calculated.

During the presentation of the initiative, MP Aulona Bylykbashi said that changing the coefficient from 0.36 to 0.38 of the President’s salary raises the calculation base for the entire magistrate salary structure.

“The Court did not impose a single numerical formula; the choice of the model is at the legislator’s discretion, provided it respects constitutional standards and does not shift to another formula that lowers pay. The first change is the base reference salary. We propose that the base reference salary coefficient go from 0.36 to 0.38% of the President’s salary. This change raises the base on which the entire salary structure of judges and prosecutors at all levels is calculated,” she said.

According to her, the new coefficient was set taking into account, on the one hand, the constitutional guarantees for the financial treatment of magistrates and, on the other, the state’s financial possibilities.

“The 0.38 coefficient is a figure that comes as the result of an assessment that took into account, on the one hand, the constitutional guarantees for the financial treatment of magistrates, but on the other hand also considered the state’s real financial possibilities, because the Constitutional Court’s decision itself expresses that this formula must respect the independence and integrity of judges, but must also take into account fiscal sustainability and social and economic development priorities,” she emphasized.

Bylykbashi stated that, according to the calculations made, the gross salary of a first-instance magistrate would reach approximately 90-91% of the President’s salary. She clarified that this is an indicative indicator, since individual salaries will vary depending on grade, seniority and respective allowances.

The draft also foresees keeping the mechanism of periodic salary indexation, no later than every two years, by decision of the Council of Ministers. According to Bylykbashi, the reference to the President’s salary was chosen to guarantee a stable, legally defined base.

“This is an initiative that I believe is the responsibility of all MPs and should be treated not with political division but with institutional maturity — I invite you to vote for this initiative,” said Bylykbashi.

The draft received the support of the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The Justice Ministry representative said the initiative fulfills the Constitutional Court’s provisions and sets principles aimed at guaranteeing legal clarity and certainty.

“We are of the opinion that the initiative fulfills the Constitutional Court’s provisions not only fully but also sets sound principles that ensure legal clarity and certainty,” said the Justice Ministry representative.

The Finance Ministry also confirmed that it has done the financial calculations for the proposed variant. According to its representative, the cost was assessed as acceptable, while it will be budgeted going forward.

“We have made the financial calculations of this variant and it turned out to be an acceptable cost, but one that will be budgeted in the future. We have also requested some specifications to separate the arrears cost,” said the Finance Ministry representative.