TIRANA, September 14/ATA/ Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed the magistrates’ salary debate today on X, challenging recent comments made by a judge.
Rama shared a statement by a judge who claimed, “It is not a budgetary deadlock; it is politics; it is arrogance; it is a matter of spite over our victory in the Constitutional Court.”
“Unbelievable, yet true, that a judge understands the independence of the judiciary in this way and views the Albanian state budget like this… Rather than maintaining the objective, dignified language expected of the bench, the statement mirrors the aggressive rhetoric of a sports ultra-protesting a VAR ruling,” Rama wrote.
Rama described the language used as inappropriate, emphasizing that the separation of powers must be respected and that no one can replace Parliament in the exercise of its powers.
“No one can replace Parliament, nor can anyone order the legislature on when to raise its hand. Only the Constitutional Court—and no one else—has the right and duty to point out when a vote was cast incorrectly; yet even it cannot, under any circumstances, dictate to the independent legislative branch how it ought to cast its vote,” wrote Rama.
According to the prime minister, wage policy is proposed by the government, approved by the Assembly and implemented by the government, whereas the Constitutional Court intervenes only when there is a violation of a constitutional principle or norm.
“Wage policy is proposed solely by the government, approved solely by the Parliament and implemented solely by the government. The Constitutional Court intervenes only if a constitutional principle or norm is violated—something lawmakers must rectify without compromising their independence, in whatever manner they deem appropriate through their vote,” he stated.
Rama also expressed concern over the possibility that associations of prosecutors and judges might employ political and legal tactics—coordinated with prosecutors’ offices and courts—to pressure the government into raising salaries.
“If associations of judges and prosecutors orchestrate a coordinated campaign of legal actions to force the government’s hand on pay increases, we will find ourselves facing a profound and novel threat to our governance framework,” wrote Rama.
He emphasized that while this situation does not intimidate the government, it is a cause for concern, noting that the salary issue is not a matter of spite, but a challenge for Albania’s European state-building process.
In his response, the prime minister stated that the table prepared for the cancelled meeting is still available.
“It is very simple. The table prepared for the requested and cancelled meeting remains ready. September 17 marks the end of only this publicly tense episode—one that could and should have been avoided—but the need for communication between independent branches of government remains,” stated Rama.
He added that the need for communication between these branches will grow even more with every step toward Albania’s accession to the European Union.
“However, we are ready to come to the table; the rest is a matter for the judges to decide,” concluded Prime Minister Edi Rama. /p.s./
