The PS majority has been unable to pass its amendments to Law 96/2016 “On the status of judges and prosecutors in the Republic of Albania” that would transfer competences of the High Judicial Council (KLGj) and High Prosecutorial Council (KLP) to the High Council of Justice (KLD) and Temporary General Prosecutor.
A 2/3 majority of 84 votes was necessary to pass the amendment to one of the key laws of the justice reform, by the Socialist majority was able to rally only 75 votes. The opposition boycotted the extraordinary parliamentary session out of protest against the destruction of the National Theater that was voted in Parliament last Thursday.
The draft law will be again on the agenda for the next session. If it passes, it will transfer the competence to nominates graduates from the School of Magistrates to the KLD and Temporary General Prosecutor as long as the KLP and KLGj have not been formed.
According to the opposition parties PD and LSI, the approval of these amendments would lead de facto to the capture of the justice system by the Rama government, which had nominated Temporary General Prosecutor Arta Marku and members of the KLD, including Minister of Justice Etilda Gjonaj.
