Rama's comments on justice/ Judges Association expresses concern

2025-12-09 09:46:00, Aktualitet CNA

The National Association of Judges of the Republic of Albania has reacted to Prime Minister Edi Rama's statements regarding the judicial case of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.

The association has expressed concern and indignation regarding the approach that Rama has chosen to take regarding this issue, which is part of the jurisdiction of the judicial branch.

According to the Association, under the guise of a complaint about the usurpation of executive and legislative powers by the judiciary, there is actually a message of pressure on the justice bodies that are reviewing the case in question.

The National Association of Judges of the Republic of Albania invites and requests every senior official of the other two branches of government to respect the independence of judges in their decision-making and to distance themselves from any behavior that violates it.

Interference in the activities of judges during the development of judicial procedures constitutes the most dangerous form of violation of the principle of separation of powers, as it aims to distort decision-making through various forms of pressure.

"The National Association of Judges of the Republic of Albania has been closely following the public communication of the Prime Minister of the country for several days regarding the judicial case in charge of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, which is being reviewed at the same time by the Constitutional Court, as well as by special courts.

The association expresses concern and indignation regarding the approach that the head of the executive branch has chosen to take regarding this issue, which is part of the jurisdiction of the judiciary. Under the guise of a complaint about the usurpation of executive and legislative powers by the judiciary, there is actually a message of pressure on the justice bodies that are reviewing the issue in question.

Also, such daily messages fed to the general public aim to create a climate of distrust towards the judiciary and can be further used as a pretext for taking erosive measures against the latter.

The association reiterates that the separation and balance of powers is one of the fundamental principles of democracy, therefore the independence of the judiciary, the final arbiter for resolving all disputes, constitutes a cornerstone for building a state of law.

This independence is put at risk not only by concrete actions aimed at limiting the scope of competence of this power, but also by any act or statement that is perceived as a threat or political pressure on judicial activity or that diminishes the reputation of the judicial bodies in the eyes of the public and, in this way, undermines their trust in these bodies.

The European Commission, in its reports on Albania, has addressed as a concern the continued attempts at interference and pressure on the judicial system by senior public officials and politicians.

Judges are independent and subject only to the Constitution and the laws, and as such the purpose of their mission is not to gain the consent of the majority of the public or a part of it, but to fanatically implement the will of the sovereign expressed in these acts.

Judicial decisions may be unpopular with some subjects, but this does not make them illegitimate, as the democratic system of governance operates within the boundaries set by the standards of the rule of law, and the final enforcers of these standards are the judges.

In this context, the National Association of Judges of the Republic of Albania invites and requests every senior official of the other two branches of government to respect the independence of judges in their decision-making and to distance themselves from any behavior that violates it.

"Interference in the activities of judges during the development of judicial procedures constitutes the most dangerous form of violation of the principle of separation of powers, as it aims to distort decision-making through various forms of pressure," the announcement states./ CNA