In their first statement shortly after becoming functional on Thursday, the Constitutional Court of Albania thanked international partners for bringing the court back to functionality nearly three years after the justice reform left the country without the highest court.
“This process has been long and complex, and has required the cooperation of many state institutions and beyond. Special thanks also go to the unstinting support given by international partners for the successful completion of this process,” a statement published on the court’s website read.
The Court said that Albania lacked a “vital” institution for nearly three years, since March 2018, and promised to meet its constitutional mission from now on.
President Meta swore in the sixth member of the Constitutional Court earlier on Thursday, making it officially functional. At least six of the nine members of the court are required for any decision making.
The election of the last two members was marred by a legally questionable procedure that no one of those involved has cared to explain.
Whilst the Constitution and the law requires the Justice Appointments Council (KED) to present a list of three ranked candidates to the Parliament and President, the last two lists included only two and one candidate.
In a previous case in September, the KED asked the President to relaunch the call for applications to fill one seat at the Constitutional Court, after it was able to have only one qualified candidate, out of the three needed. The President relaunched the process.
