Judges across the Republic gathered for an extraordinary meeting at the Justice Center, where they adopted a joint position regarding the freezing of magistrates’ salaries.
The statement was read by Judge Alda Sadiku, who stressed that the judiciary’s demands are not subject to negotiation because, according to the judges, they stem from the Constitution, the law, and a final ruling of the Constitutional Court.
“These demands are not subject to negotiation because they do not stem from a temporary interest or from an unconfirmed claim. They stem from the Constitution, the law, and a final ruling of the Constitutional Court,” the statement reads.
One of the key points of the statement concerns the measures that could be taken if the responsible institutions fail to implement the Constitutional Court’s ruling and ensure the payment of salaries.
“If the responsible institutions do not act immediately to implement the Constitutional Court’s ruling and execute the salary payments, the measures taken by the judiciary will be escalated, up to the temporary reduction and restriction of judicial activity, limiting proceedings solely to cases of an urgent nature that require immediate judicial intervention,” the statement reads.
However, the judges stressed that they will continue to perform their duties responsibly toward citizens and in full respect of the Constitution and the law.
“The judges of the Republic will continue to perform their duties responsibly toward citizens and with full respect for the Constitution and the law,” the statement reads.
The General Assembly called on Parliament, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Finance, and the President to intervene immediately and fulfill their constitutional and legal obligations.
In the statement, the judges emphasized that they are not seeking supremacy over the other branches of government, but rather respect for the separation of powers and compliance with final decisions of constitutional justice.
“The judiciary does not seek supremacy over the other branches of government, nor does it accept subordination to them. It seeks only what the Constitution requires: that each branch exercise its own powers, respect the boundaries of the others, and comply with the final decisions of constitutional justice,” the statement reads.
The post Judges Issue Joint Statement: Salaries Must Be Unblocked Immediately or We Will Reduce Court Proceedings appeared first on Euronews Albania.