Minister Malaj reacts after judges’ criminal complaint: We are enforcing the law—here are the real costs of the demand

Finance Minister Petrit Malaj has issued a public reaction on the social network Facebook after 18 heads of courts in Albania, together with two heads of judges’ and prosecutors’ associations, filed a criminal complaint against him with the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK). The ministry’s Secretary-General, as well as all treasury directors across the country, were also named in the complaint.

According to his post, the accusation is directly related to the Finance Ministry’s decision not to authorize the release of funds from the State Treasury for salary increases for magistrates without prior approval from Parliament.

In his reaction, the senior government official published a detailed overview of current salaries and those being requested. He explained that the annual impact of these increases on the budget would amount to an additional 40 million euros. Malaj further emphasized that judges and prosecutors are seeking a retroactive salary review for the 2023–2026 period, which would cost the state around 125 million euros.

“To be reported because you are enforcing the law, by the guarantors of equality before the law!” Malaj wrote at the beginning of his reaction, adding that a criminal complaint had been filed today with the Finance Ministry against him, the Secretary-General and all local treasury directors. According to him, the reason was their refusal to open the public coffers without a parliamentary decision for a large sum of money that would constitute a pay increase for the judiciary.

The minister clarified that he did not want to enter into a debate, but recalled the position publicly expressed by the executive and lawmakers that the issue of salaries would be resolved in accordance with the Constitutional Court’s decision. This is expected to happen on September 17, with the approval of the law that gives the Finance Ministry the legal basis to act.

Nevertheless, he underscored that representatives of the judicial system had escalated the situation with an act that “history will certainly remember.”

The minister then detailed the concrete costs of the demand for the public, comparing current salaries with the amounts sought for three categories of magistrates. A first-instance judge currently earns 376,381 lekë and is seeking 567,421 lekë; an appeals judge would see their salary rise from 388,927 lekë to 586,335 lekë; while a judge of the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) is seeking an increase from 401,473 lekë to 605,350 lekë.

Meanwhile, Malaj also addressed his staff, particularly the treasury directors and the Secretary-General, urging them not to be afraid and to continue working calmly, protecting state finances responsibly and in full compliance with the legal framework.