Constitutional Court raises its own salaries, from 199,000 to 242,000 denars gross

Despite constant criticism of their work during this term, the judges of the Constitutional Court have decided to raise their own salaries. Starting October 1, the President and judges of this court will receive higher salaries after several parts of the Law on Salaries and Other Compensation of Elected and Appointed Persons were repealed.

This decision is linked to the articles that determine the coefficients for calculating the salaries of the President and members of the Constitutional Court. With the implementation of the change, the President’s salary will be calculated with a coefficient of 3.08, while that of the constitutional judges will be calculated with a coefficient of 2.85. Initial estimates show that restoring the previous coefficients brings a monthly increase of at least 200 euros.

According to rough calculations, the President of the Constitutional Court will have a gross salary of 242,500 denars, or approximately 164,000 denars net. Meanwhile, the judges’ salaries will reach 199,500 denars gross, or 135,000 denars net.

Salaries at the Constitutional Court from October 1:

President – 242,000 denars gross (3,926 euros) – 164,000 denars net (2,660 euros)

Judges – 199,000 denars gross (3,228 euros) – 135,000 net (2,190 euros).

In its reasoning, the Constitutional Court assessed that the salaries of its members should not be treated according to the same standards as those of ministers and other elected or appointed officials. As arguments, it cited the institution’s special constitutional position, as well as the need for judges’ material security to be seen as part of the guarantees for their independence and autonomy. The Constitutional Court itself initiated the procedure.

This decision brings back into discussion the dilemma of whether judges should decide on their own salaries, especially at a time when living costs are rising, other public sectors are constantly demanding higher pay, and their work continues to be criticized. These criticisms also include those of the European Commission over the ethnic issues opened by controversial rulings of the Constitutional Court./Alsat/