Salary deadlock: Braçe slams High Judicial and High Prosecutorial Councils — “No one can just dip their hand into the State Treasury”

Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe continued today (September 14) with his harsh criticism of the High Judicial Council (HJC) and the High Prosecutorial Council (HPC) over decisions on magistrates’ salaries.

In the Economy and Finance Committee, Braçe said no one not authorized by law can decide on the State Treasury’s money.

“If everyone in this country, who has some power in their hands, were to come out tomorrow and say ‘I want my income’ to be this much, this tramples on the money of Albanians. That is the money of Albanian taxpayers. Accountability must come from here and not from the power to force. If you follow the path of power, of course we trample the state,” he said.

The socialist lawmaker continued his argument:

“It was our political will that they be paid even much better than the deputies of the Albanian Parliament. In the salary hierarchy they are much higher. No one not authorized by law can dip their hand into the State Treasury.”

In the end he emphasized the financial discipline that keeps the state standing and that Albania cannot afford an economic crisis.

“It has been a while since we fell into strong crises precisely because of this, because no one dips their hand in and leaves anymore. Fiscal discipline is fundamental for the state. Can this country still afford to enter an economic and financial crisis? I think it cannot. By each keeping their position, I think we come out of it,” said Braçe.