During the discussions held earlier today, the High Court and the High Prosecutorial Council rejected the formula proposed by the ruling majority to amend magistrates’ salaries, arguing that the planned increase does not meet the standard set by the Constitutional Court.

Justice Minister Toni Gogu told the Committee on Legal Affairs and Public Administration that Constitutional Court rulings must be implemented, but stressed they must be equally respected within the constitutional order under which the Court operates.

Justice Minister Gogu emphasised that the key issue is who should determine the salary formula and the level of each wage in Albania, stressing that the Constitution assigns this competence to Parliament through legislation. He added that the Constitutional Court’s ruling, which requires legislative intervention, can only be addressed by law, and warned that Parliament’s inaction cannot be resolved by assuming powers outside the legal framework.

The draft law raises magistrates’ reference salary to 0.38 of the President’s wage, up from 0.36, amounting to about an 8,500 lek increase. Judicial institutions and magistrates’ associations have opposed the Socialist proposal, instead backing a counter‑formula endorsed by the High Judicial Council and High Prosecutorial Council that calls for a rise nearly nine times higher — around 80,000 lek.

Following approval in the Legal Affairs Committee, the draft law is expected to go to a plenary vote on 17 September.

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