TIRANA, Feb 4 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama responded on Wednesday to a statement issued by the National Association of Judges a day ago, saying his remarks on judges’ salaries were made in his capacity as a party to an ongoing court case.
Rama has criticised what he described as an attempt by judges to secure pay rises through judicial rulings, calling the move “unjustified, unacceptable and untenable”, and accusing them of efforts to pressure the government and parliament for higher pay.
In a statement posted on social media, the government head said he had raised the issue publicly as a party to the proceedings, acting on behalf of the executive branch.
“As a party with the right to defend its own interest – in this case, the public interest – before the court. That is, on behalf of the executive power, as well as the leader of the parliamentary majority,” Rama stated.
He added that this was the second time his comments had prompted what he described as surprise and attempts to silence him, stressing that he was speaking in representation of the mandate given to him by voters and in defence of an interest that is currently the subject of judicial proceedings.
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