As the official start of the vetting of the judiciary is expected to start in September, so far 7 officials have handed in their resignation in order to avoid the vetting procedure. The majority of resignations come from the High Court.
The following officials have so far resigned from their posts:
- Sulejman Tola, prosecutor from Kruja
- Ilir Çeliku, judge from the Appeals Court in Shkodra
- Ilir Pashaj, judge from Court in Elbasan
- Mirela Fana, judge from the High Court
- Eritan Shehu, legal councilor from the High Court
- Adnand Berdica, legal councilor from the High Court
- Etleva Sherifi, legal aid from the High Court
According to art. 56(1) of the vetting law, officials from the judiciary are allowed to resign within 3 months from the moment law enters into force. The law was officially published on August 30, 2016, and the law itself states that it will enter into force 15 days after publication, which is September 14. This put the final deadline for resignations in order not to be subjected to the vetting procedure on December 14, 2016.
As none of the 7 officials mentioned above did so before this deadline, in theory all of them would still be vetted, in spite of them having handed in their resignation.
However, the Constitutional Court is expected to take a final decision on the right to resign and withdraw from the vetting procedure at any moment on September 28, after a complaint of the Union of Judges.
