Sadushi Urges Finance Ministry to Unblock Judges’ Salaries: Constitutional Court Ruling Must Be Implemented

TIRANA – Supreme Court President Sokol Sadushi has asked the Ministry of Finance to immediately resume payments to judges. The request comes after payments were blocked in the Treasury system due to disagreements over the implementation of Constitutional Court Decision No. 15, dated February 17, 2026.

In the letter sent to Finance Minister Petrit Malaj, with Justice Minister Toni Gogu and High Judicial Council Chairman Ilir Rusi copied in, Sadushi states that the absence of a new law adopted by Parliament or of funds allocated in the budget cannot be used to halt the implementation of the Constitutional Court ruling.

According to the Supreme Court, Decision No. 15/2026 required Parliament to adopt the necessary legislative amendments by July 31, 2026. After that deadline expired, the previous formula for magistrates’ salaries could no longer continue to have legal effect, according to the court’s interpretation.

The letter emphasizes that the Constitutional Court also specified the consequences arising from Parliament’s failure to act. In this case, the applicable reference is the salary formula for senior public administration officials, in accordance with the standard set by Decision No. 35/2022.

The Supreme Court also cites Decision No. 435, dated August 26, 2026, of the High Judicial Council. According to the court, this decision did not introduce a new salary policy but specifically established how the obligation imposed by the Constitutional Court should be implemented.

For the period beginning August 1, 2026, the basic reference salary was calculated on the basis of a position salary of 222.425 lek and a qualification-level supplement of 14.000 lek. The total amounts to 236.425 lek.

The Supreme Court rejects the argument that the salaries cannot be paid because they were not included in the budget plan. The letter states that the necessary funds can be secured through mechanisms provided for under budget legislation, while the obligation to implement the Constitutional Court ruling remains in force.

The Ministry of Finance is being asked to immediately unblock judges’ monthly salary payments.

It is also being asked to apply the basic reference salary starting from August 1, 2026.

Another request concerns the allocation of any additional funds that may be needed for current payments.

The Supreme Court is also seeking the settlement of financial differences for the period from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2026, in accordance with the High Judicial Council’s decision.

“Compliance with the Constitutional Court’s ruling is not a matter of institutional will, but a constitutional obligation for every body of the Republic,” reads the conclusion of the letter signed by Supreme Court President Sokol Sadushi.