“We have our own budget bag” — Rama publishes a judge’s words: this is how they see Albanians’ budget

Prime Minister Edi Rama has responded once again via a post on the X platform to the recent days’ debate over judges’ salaries and the clash between the government and the justice system.

Rama posted a photo with a statement attributed to a judge, which reads:

“We have our own budget bag. We are not taking from others’ bags. In short, we are not allowed to take from our own bag.”

Alongside the post, the prime minister writes:

“Unbelievable, but true, that a judge understands independence this way and sees the Albanian state budget this way…”

Rama’s reaction comes at a moment when the debate over magistrates’ salaries has escalated, following judicial decisions and discussions over how the executive is implementing them.

The issue is linked to the demand for higher judges’ salaries and the payment of back sums. Rama has opposed the level of the demands, arguing they carry a considerable cost for the state budget.

Meanwhile, Parliament is expected to take up the legal solution for judiciary salaries on September 17.

The debate between the government and justice representatives continues to be one of the most discussed political and institutional issues of these days.