Topi insists on reforms in justice

TIRANA, June 14 – With the country facing parliamentary elections June 28, President Bamir Topi called on parties to present their positions on justice reform.
“It very important that political parties express clearly what they intend to do with the reform of the justice system,” Albania’s head of state said in a meeting of the High Council of Justice.
Judiciary is the country’s Achilles’ heel along its integration efforts during the post-communist period since 1990.
Recalling that most of the laws regarding the justice system in Albania required both the vote of the majority and opposition to pass, Topi called on political parties to present their visions of reforms of the system before Albanians head to the ballot.
Once in office, Albanian parties often clash with the justice system due to the high levels of corruption within the country and a culture of political impunity.
Albania’s current electoral campaign has been mostly dominated by more populist themes so far, including reform in rural areas, aimed at eradicating poverty, and working towards visa liberalization and EU integration and none has yet to publish a detailed platform for the next four year.