TIRANA, March 24 – Constitutional Court judge Fatos Lulo was ousted on Friday by the Independent Qualification Commission (IQC) after failing to justify his wealth under the justice reform.
Lulo’s wealth included a 172 square meter office at Durres Str., a bank account of €100.000 and a sum of Canadian $480.000.
His alibi that the office and bank account sum were a present from his sister, while the big amount of Canadian dollars a loan to start a business in Canada were overthrown after a reverification, making Lulo the first judge to lose his position.
Local media reported the judge will appeal the decision, yet it is highly unlikely he will be reappointed.
Prime Minister Edi Rama, who until now saw the resigned judges and prosecutors as a sign of a successful start of the justice reform, said all Albanians supporting the vetting should feel happy.
“I am convinced you have seen nothing yet,” Rama’s Facebook statement concluded.
The IQC will verify 56 more judges and prosecutors – candidates of the country’s reformed legal bodies.
Part of the 14 candidates for the High Judicial Council is the temporary General Prosecutor Arta Marku – appointed last December amid parliamentary protests that resulted in the opposition throwing gas bombs during the seance.
The IQC will first verify the cleanliness of figure, wealth and professional skills of the judges and prosecutors applying to be part of the country’s new, reformed justice system, and will then proceed with everyone holding a legal position in the country.
The justice reform, which consists of ‘cleaning’ Albania’s justice system from corrupt judges and prosecutors, was one of the main conditions the European Union set in order for EU accession negotiations to begin for the country.
