Salary dispute, Lala: No executive can disregard the Constitutional Court, judges file criminal complaint against Petrit Malaj

The criminal complaint filed by judges against Finance Minister Petrit Malaj has been described by journalist Klodiana Lala as a response to a deliberate political blockade orchestrated by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Speaking on News24’s “Minuta e Parë” program, Lala said the executive branch’s failure to implement the Constitutional Court’s ruling on magistrates’ salaries sets a dangerous precedent. She stressed that no government can place itself above the judiciary.

According to Lala, the judges decided to refer Minister Malaj to prosecutors, accusing him of abuse of office and obstructing the enforcement of court decisions. The journalist explained that salaries at the Constitutional Court, SPAK and GJKKO continue to be calculated according to the old formula, on the grounds that there are technical obstacles or budgetary constraints.

She added that the impasse is felt most acutely in the special structure, where the planned salary increase was higher than in the rest of the system.

Lala argued that the issue does not stem from a lack of state funds, but from an entirely artificial deadlock intended to exert pressure on and discredit the justice system. According to her, this approach once again brings Rama’s previous clashes with the panel of judges into focus, while the law clearly stipulates that budgetary funds and salaries for the judiciary must be disbursed without administrative or political obstacles.