The President approved the law’s immediate entry into force at Parliament’s request. Parliament had cited the need and urgency of the measure, arguing that the Constitutional Court’s annulment of provisions setting out magistrates’ salaries had frozen salary payments to all judges and prosecutors from 1 August 2026 onwards.

Without the new law taking effect, the State Treasury cannot release salary payments for magistrates. Parliament’s aim was to enable the Treasury to make payments to judges and prosecutors from 18 September 2026, covering salaries withheld since 1 August 2026 as well as subsequent payments.

Had the law entered into force through the standard procedure, the process would have been delayed by between 15 and 35 days.

The President’s approval for the law to take effect immediately is a constitutional prerogative and instrument, justified by the need and urgency of the circumstances.

Constitutional arguments and counterarguments concerning the level of salaries may also be debated before other competent bodies, but the salaries themselves can only be legally unblocked by bringing the new law into force.

The law’s immediate entry into force requires prompt action by the President. According to President Begaj, his approval in this case addresses an urgent need directly linked to judicial independence by ensuring stable incomes and living standards for magistrates across the country.

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