Zaçaj ends her term as president of the Constitutional Court: The issue of judges' mandates, the biggest challenge

2025-11-25 09:04:00, Aktualitet CNA

Zaçaj ends her term as president of the Constitutional Court: The issue

The outgoing President of the Constitutional Court, Holta Zaçaj, has made public the balance of her three-year mandate, evaluating the period 2023–2025 as an important reform stage for the highest institution guaranteeing the Constitution in the country.

In her farewell statement, Zaçaj emphasized that her mandate coincided with a phase fraught with challenges, the most important of which was the issue of the duration of the mandates of constitutional judges, an issue that, according to her, directly affected the independence of the institution and legal certainty.

Holta Zacaj's reaction

At the end of my mandate as a judge and at the same time as the President of the Constitutional Court, I would like to share with the public some reflections on the work and achievements of this Court during the three years in which I had the privilege, responsibility and pleasure of exercising this constitutional function. This period not only corresponds to my expectations for this mandate, but also allowed me to realize my vision for the administration and direction of the Constitutional Court.

The year 2025 ended with one of the most important challenges for the institution, the issue of the duration of the mandates of constitutional judges. As long as the mandate of a constitutional judge is closely linked to his own independence as well as that of this Court, uncertainties in this regard affect the systemic functioning of the institution, but also in the personal aspect of the judges. In this regard, I think I made a contribution that goes beyond personal direction, despite any different interpretation.

During the period 2023–2025, the Constitutional Court has faced decision-making of particular importance, which has once again proven its irreplaceable role as a guarantor of the Constitution. The body of judges has worked with dedication, dealing with a record number of cases, which in the last three years have increased by 35-40%, reaching up to about 400 cases reviewed per year, of which a considerable number, 85-90 cases, have been closed with final decisions. The Court has continued to review cases passed in plenary session within an 8-month period and other cases within the legal 3-month deadline, continuing to have no backlog of cases.

I am pleased to note that these three intensive years have contributed to the re-dimensioning of the role and profile of the Constitutional Court of Albania.

I. International achievements

This period has marked several important developments on the international level, such as:

Taking over the presidency of the Conference of European Constitutional Courts (CECC) during its 19th Congress in May 2024, where 35 member courts voted for the first time Albania as chairman for the period 2024–2027.

Organization in Tirana of the Meeting of the Circle of Presidents with the participation of 34 European constitutional courts.

Full membership of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo in the Conference of European Constitutional Courts following an application initiated in 2011.

Election of the Constitutional Court of Albania as a member of the Bureau of Francophone Associations (ACCF).

II. Important institutional initiatives

During these three years, initiatives have been undertaken that were missing for years and that today constitute consolidated practices, with long-term impact.

Seeing justice as a public service, increasing transparency and access was among the main priorities, so the implementation of the following initiatives takes on particular importance:

Jurisprudence Guides – Guides were missing instruments and for the first time the entire jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court was compiled and published. In 2024, the Guide on individual constitutional complaints was published, while in 2025 the Guide on fundamental human principles, rights and freedoms.

Bimonthly bulletin of Constitutional Court decisions, widely distributed in electronic form in Albanian and English, with clear and accessible summaries for legal professionals and beyond.

"My Constitution", the first explanatory manual for school children, with simple and educational language.

III. Communication with the public and the media

To strengthen transparency and public information, since 2023 the Constitutional Court has applied new practices of openness and public communication through these instruments:

Press conferences of the President of the Court on the same day as decisions in cases of high public interest, accompanied by press releases that also included the main justifications of the decisions.

Annual reports of the judicial and administrative activity of the Court.

Live broadcast of public plenary sessions.

Publication of case data after the draw, except for the decisions of the Panels and the Meeting of Judges, on the official website of the Court.

Increasing presence on social networks through the publication of verified and understandable information to the public.

The new official website of the Court, conceived with a modern design and a more organized structure.

The electronic case management system, which has been developed through cooperation with international partners and is expected to be finalized soon, brings the Court into the digital age.

IV. Important regulatory acts

During this period, the body of judges of the Constitutional Court has adopted a number of important internal acts, such as:

Regulation on the Organization and Functioning of the Administration of the Constitutional Court.

Regulation on Communication with the Media.

Code of Ethics of the Administration of the Constitutional Court.

The above would not have been possible without the contribution of my fellow judges, so I thank them for supporting my vision and for their hard work in achieving the set objectives.

Likewise, I express my utmost appreciation for the professional support of the legal advisors and administration of the Constitutional Court, as well as for the support of all institutional and international actors who have collaborated with this Court throughout this period.

In conclusion, I express my conviction that the achievements outlined above will continue to serve as a strong basis for the further development of the Constitutional Court and for strengthening its role as the highest institution guaranteeing the Constitution in the Republic of Albania./ CNA