TIRANA, Nov. 29 – The Union and Association of Judges in Albania have joined forces to appeal the bill on the “Status of Judges and Prosecutors in Albania” that entered into force on Nov. 22.
Representatives of the Union and Association of Judges said that the bill violates the country’s Constitution and should be abrogated. They argued that the bill creates an “institutional vacuum and violates the possibility of judges in the First Instance Court and Court of Appeal to be promoted during their career.”
In addition, judges believe that the implementation of the bill, part of the Judicial Reform package “can collapse the functioning of the institutions in the judiciary.”
The entering to force of this bill has caused stagnation in the High Council of the Justice which can not nominate, transfer or promote judges.
One month ago, judges and prosecutors filed a motion to the Constitutional Court calling for the suspension of the vetting bill part of the judicial reform which aims to out root corruption from the system. Both unions claim that the vetting bill is harming the independence of the justice system.
