In a press conference given today, president Ilir Meta declared he would refuse to decree the changes to the Law on Constitutional Court passed by the Socialist majority. These changes would make it unnecessary for court members to swear in before the President of the Republic.
Meta claimed that these legal changes constitute an attempt on the part of the Rama government to seize the Constitutional Court. The law was passed only one day before the Venice Commission made its visit to Albania, that would precede the release of its official opinion regarding the nomination of Constitutional Court members.
This move was labelled as “treacherous” and “immoral” by Meta.
Meta called the law an attempt by the ruling majority to seize control of the Constitution by “sneaking in” party faithful individuals to the Constitutional Court. However, he claimed, “the President of the Republic will never allow this […] coup d’etat.”
Meta also said that he would be presenting new evidence to the Prosecution Office, revealing the criminal activities and constitutional infringements of Ardian Dvorani, head of the Justice Appointments Council (KED), as the law regarding the Constitutional Court changes was passed.
The President insisted that he would remain in office despite the government’s attempts to impeach him. “Every day, there is a coup d’etat against constitutional rights,” Meta said.
“There is no way the president will abandon his duty to protect a just state.”
