The President of the Association of Judges, Engert Pëllumbi, has reacted to the clash between the government and the judiciary over the salaries of magistrates, warning of an additional criminal complaint to SPAK. Pëllumbi said that the decision of the Constitutional Court on salaries is binding and cannot be considered an illegal intervention in the budget.
"The Constitutional Court does not open the treasury door illegally. It has declared the reduction of judges' salaries unconstitutional," he declared.
Pëllumbi also commented on the statements of Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has opposed the way the judiciary is demanding the execution of the salary decision. According to him, if a senior official admits to having been part of the decision-making process for the non-execution of a court decision, the matter could also involve criminal liability.
"We can file an additional criminal report with SPAK," said Pëllumbi, adding that the prosecution has the obligation to investigate any person against whom there are well-founded suspicions.
He announced that the judges' complaint referred to the criminal offenses of "Abuse of office" and "Obstruction of the execution of court decisions."
Pëllumbi insisted that the judges are not seeking privileges, but the implementation of the Constitutional Court's decision. According to him, the salary formula is not subject to negotiation. He warned that if the majority interferes with the law again, the judges will once again turn to the Constitutional Court. Pëllumbi also announced that the Berat Prosecutor's Office has registered a criminal proceeding following a complaint by court administration employees regarding the non-execution of payments.
