Albanian parliament decided on Friday to establish an ad hoc committee for the selection of a new public commissioner and a new alternate member of the Independent Vetting Commission (KPK), which is carrying out the vetting of all judges and prosecutors.
Former public commissioner Darjel Sina was elected judge of the High Court, while former KPK alternate member Pal Shkëmbi resigned in order to run as an independent candidate in the last April general elections.
Both vacancies are expected to be filled before the ending of the current parliament, on July 31st.
41 persons have applied for these vacancies, 29 for public commissioner and 12 for an alternate member of KPK.
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The Albanian High Court is expected to fill three vacancies during the current parliament. The head of the High Judicial Council Anduena Llagami informed on Thursday that three new candidates are being selected by the council and will be proposed to the parliament in the coming days.
This will bring the number of the sitting High Court judges up to 10, leaving 9 more vacancies.
The High Court was totally vacated due to the combination of dismissals by the Vetting Commission and the completion of tenures.
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The Independent Vetting Commission (KPK) confirmed on Friday judge Lutfije Celami, serving since 2014 in the Berat District Court. All three commissioners in the vetting body voted in favor of her confirmation.
Gentiana Xhelili, a judge in Vlora Administrative Court, was dismissed by KPK on Thursday. Inconsistencies in her asset declaration, including failure to justify cash savings and non-payment of taxes on income from an apartment rental.
