TIRANA, Aug. 10 – The chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee on Justice Reform, Fatmir Xhafa, has said sweeping changes are needed to Albania’s justice system for a proposed reform to be successful.
“The situation in the system is critical. Incompetence, corruption and lack of integrity and accountability are negative phenomena that make the system depend on political influence and interests of the most powerful,” Xhafa said this week, adding small changes cannot correct the situation. “It needs major surgery.”
The reform process started eight months ago and for it to work constitutional changes should also be on the table, Xhafa said, including those that limit the powers of the president in the justice system and review the makeup and selection of the High Council of Justice, the Attorney General and judges.
Tens of laws need to be rewritten, according to Xhafaj.
The ruling Socialists say they want to work with the opposition on the reform, but Democrats have expressed concerns about the balance of power between branches of government.
The special commission’s deputy had, Democratic Party lawmaker Eduard Halimi, said “political protagonist does not help the process,” following Xhafa’s comments to reporters.
“Only a shared and transparent process can guarantee a successful and consensual reform,” Halimi said.
He added the reform should consult Albanians and international partners with the aim of “consolidating the independence of the judiciary, completely eliminating political capture … and aid an uncompromising fight against corruption and incompetence in the judiciary.”
