Report urges fight against political interference, corruption in justice system

TIRANA, Jan. 23 – A report by the Council of Europe last week stressing that corruption and political interference were undermining the effectiveness of Albania’s justice system.
The Council of Europe’s commissioner for human rights, Nils Muiznieks, who prepared the report also after a visit to the country last year, said corruption in the judiciary “seriously impedes the proper functioning of the judiciary and undermines public trust in justice and the rule of law in Albania and urged the authorities “to step up their efforts to ensure that all cases of corruption in the judiciary are effectively investigated and prosecuted.”
Muiznieks urged depoliticizing the judiciary, starting by strengthening the independence of the High Council of Justice, which would ensure the integrity of the justice system. He said its members should be elected with three-fifth of their votes.
The council is headed by the country’s president.
“The members of this council should be elected by a qualified majority in parliament and should exert a more decisive influence on the appointment, promotion and disciplinary proceedings of judges, including those of the Supreme Court,” said the report, adding that “any improper political interference in the functioning of the judiciary should be avoided; this includes removing the involvement of the Minister of Justice in the disciplinary proceedings against judges.”
It also advised a qualified majority in the parliament vote for the appointment of the General Prosecutor.