Albania Parties Split on Key Judicial Reforms

Albania's ruling parties and the opposition remain divided on important judicial changes, intended to curb political influence on the judiciary and help the country’s EU accession bid.

Fatjona Mejdini

BIRN 

Tirana

Albania MPs to debate the packet of judicial reforms.

Albania is preparing to change its constitution in December as part of an ambitious effort to reform the judicial system, widely considered as the most corrupt field in the country.

However, the main parties still have not agreed a common draft, jeopardizing the chances of success in passing the amendments in parliament.

For the constitutional changes to pass, 93 MPs out of 120 members have to back them.
The first changes affect five articles of the constitution will set up a new way of selecting the members of High Council of Justice, aiming to decrease the role of politics in the highest body of justice.

The High and Constitutionals Courts will also change their composition and functions.

The institution of General Persecutor will be more focused on investigating corruption after the changes as well.

The revisions include empowering more anti-corruption initiatives in the judiciary and the President's office, as he is also the chairman of High Council of Justice.

Judicial reform is an EU condition for Albania to move forward in the next step towards gaining candidate status.

Comprehensive reform is considered essential by Albania's international partners. For this reason, alongside the parliamentary commission, a group of high-level experts has been joined to the attempt to reform the system.

Representatives from justice missions of the European Union, the United States and the Council of Europe are part of this group.

A visit of six members of Venice Commission, an advisory body of the Council of Europe on legal issues, is visiting Albania after the reform commission sought their opinion on the planned reforms.

However, on Monday, while meeting the group of six rapporteurs, the deputy chairman of the parliamentary commission, a representative of the opposition, complained about the way this reform was being carried out.

Eduard Halimi said the ruling party members on the commission had failed to create a comprehensive and transparent process. 

The opposition was ready to collaborate, but the majority had to reflect their opinions, he added.