Rama opposes decision on judges’ salaries: Retroactive obligations from April 2023 amount to €130.5 million

Prime Minister Edi Rama has again reacted to the Administrative Court’s decision on judges’ salaries, describing it as an unusual ruling.

In a post on the “X” platform, Rama emphasized that the decision provides not only for an immediate 51 percent increase in salaries, but also compensation for the amounts claimed as arrears dating back to April 2023.

According to the prime minister, implementing this demand would create obligations worth around €130.5 million. He also questioned the basis for and the manner in which the decision was made.

Rama apologized for what he described as incomplete information regarding the decision-making of the previous day. He stated that the Administrative Court, through the first securing of a lawsuit in world history not to suspend an act, but to implement an act, had not requested only an immediate 51 percent increase in judges’ salaries.

“The court also demands payment of arrears dating back to April 2023, on the grounds that salaries should have been increased by the same amount at that time as the increase now being sought,” the prime minister wrote.

Rama added that the attached table shows the amount each judge would personally receive as back pay if the finance minister were to violate the law and implement this extra-parliamentary decision.