TIRANA, August 8/ATA/-In Albania, the vetting process of prosecutors and judges as part of the justice reform has received much attention in the public opinion because it is being accompanied by mass dismissals of representatives of the justice system. This has led to the collapse of both the constitutional and the supreme courts, and as a consequence there is a tense political debate even among the ranks of the judiciary.
The critics see Vetting as an aggressive process, in some cases of double standards and politically influenced by the ruling majority.
Director for the Western Balkans at the European Commission and Chair of the International Monitoring Operation (IMO) Genoveva Ruiz Calavera, in a written interview for the Voice of America, dismissed those claims considering them as signals that Vetting is shaking the foundations of a corrupt system. She denied that the process was politically influenced and stressed the need to reform the justice system.
The re-evaluation process of prosecutors and judges, as part of the justice reform, has removed 74 prosecutors and judges from office while 39 of them have resigned. A total of 113 prosecutors and judges are absent to the system and as a result the Constitutional and Supreme courts cannot make decisions due to the shortage of judges.
The International Monitoring Operation is following the Vetting process. For almost three years since its adoption, it has received much attention not only as the first product of judicial reform but also as a test of its progress. IMO chief Calavera told VOA that the process aims to restore public confidence in the justice system.
Since the beginning of the Vetting process, there have been filed 4,200 citizen denouncements for the prosecutors and judges.
The IMO chief expressed her conviction that the Vetting process has delivered a strong message to all those who have abused with the power.
The re-evaluation of approximately 700 prosecutors and judges is expected to be completed in 2026. The engagement of the international monitoring operation will be completed by the end of this process with recommendations and opinions including opposing opinions if necessary.
“Moreover, we have recently provided € 42m of EU funds in a new justice program that will help consolidate the reform. As you can see, the EU engagement in Albania is multi-dimensional because we want to see tangible results of achievement with the rule of law”- said Calavera./a.a/p.s./
