What is the Court of Accounts and why have we often heard this denomination from Lulzim Basha

2024-08-07 11:08:00, Politikë CNA

What is the Court of Accounts and why have we often heard this denomination from

KLSH building

The Supreme State Control is the next body targeted by the Xhafaj Commission. The main purpose of the Supreme State Audit is the control of government expenditures for the account of the state and the presentation of the assessment, for rules and legality in the Assembly for a good management of the functioning of public finances.

Since the time of King Zog, depending on the political regime of the time, the institution has undergone changes in the form of its operation, including the object, subordination and powers. Since 1925, when it was composed for the first time, the institution of auditing state accounts has changed 6 times. Since the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania in 1998, the institution of financial audit in the country bears the name "Supreme Audit of the State" (Supreme State Audit).

The Xhafaj Commission, one of its objectives is precisely the dissolution of the existing institution and in its place the organization of a new institution under the guise of the "Court of Accounts". (read here)

The Supreme State Control is not a body attacked by the public. On the contrary! There are no measurements or indicators that have highlighted any malfunction or malfunction of this institution. On the contrary! The long list of audit reports and the referral of cases to the Prosecutor's Office and SPAK, go in favor of the assessment regarding the independence of the institution and not its dissolution.

Then why is this institution targeted for closure? The institution itself has never been involved in scandals, except for the case when it was led by Bujar Leskaj, who, after resigning and leaving for 5 months following his private professional commitments, returned after declaring that he had resigned. (read here)

The Speaker of the Assembly Gramoz Ruçi supported Mr. Leskaj in this practice and innovative behavior both with the state post and with the institution of resignation. (read here)

In any case, it remains to be understood what study the majority has done, which has led to the conclusion that today the KLSH no longer works. At the tables of those who are part of the management of what is called the majority, there is often talk about the establishment of the Court of Accounts.

But what is the Court of Accounts?

In neighboring Italy, court judges are selected by public competition in which court magistrates, military personnel, state attorneys, or officials in special capacities may participate. That court consists of 15 people who are elected respectively, 1/3 appointed by the President, 1/3 by the judiciary and 1/3 by the parliament.

The European Court of Accounts is the court that controls the revenues and expenses of the European Union from the legal side and ensures that the financial management is effective. It also conveys to the European Parliament and the Council a Declaration of Guarantee regarding the reliability of the financial reports and the transactions contained in the reports. The court consists of citizens of each member state, who are elected for a 6-year term by qualified majority of the Council of the European Union, as the latter consults with the European Parliament.

In Albania, the establishment of the Court of Accounts was often mentioned by Lulzim Basha. Lulzimi does not stand out for legal or technical knowledge, much less has he ever been classified as a person who knows what he is talking about. In general, Lulzimi says what he is told to say, so it is difficult to read Lulzimi as a reformer. Lulzim is neither heard nor taken seriously in the electorate, neither on the right nor on the left. (read here)

Lulzim Basha and Fatmir Xhafaj

But Lulzim has been heard by the majority! The establishment of the Court of Accounts requires votes that change the Constitution, since the Supreme State Audit is a constitutional body. The majority does not have those votes! Lulzimi doesn't have them either!

The Democratic Party led by Sali Berisha, until yesterday refused to become part of the Xhafaj commission, but this may be a temporary (non)movement. (read here)

Until September, the public's memory of the agreement on changes to the Electoral Code will be dimmed. Therefore, do not be surprised if Flamur Noka, for example, will sit as a member of that commission, and will ask to carry out the "Lulzim Basha" reform related to the Court of Accounts to the end. It is possible that Lulzimi himself will become part of that commission. After all, he is still a member of the DP Parliamentary Group!/CNA