Parliament LIVE: DP and Bardhi Sought to Remove the Magistrates’ Pay Formula Draft From the Agenda — Majority Rejects the Request

Parliament on Thursday rejected in plenary session the request of the Democratic Party and Democratic parliamentary group leader Gazment Bardhi to remove from the agenda the draft passed in Committee on the magistrates’ pay formula.

Bardhi, in his speech, asked that the Constitutional Court’s decision be implemented and, moreover, that time be left for consultations with the judiciary before the vote.

But Socialist group leader Taulant Balla opposed, declaring that Parliament has the legislative prerogative on the pay issue.

After procedural debates between the two group leaders, Peleshi put Bardhi’s request to a vote, which was rejected by a majority of votes.

In this way, parliament will also vote today on the magistrates’ pay formula, for an increase of 8,500 lek — 9 times less than what judges are asking for.

At the start of the agenda procedure, the majority also voted the President’s decrees on Interior Minister Ervin Demo and the dismissal of Besfort Lamallari from that post, for the latest changes in the “Rama” government.