High Council of Justice, political debates

One of the HCJ members wanted to know why the Albanian President was missing in this meeting, and also attacked the second man in charge in this council, Kreshnik Spahiu.

Besides diverting the agenda, there were also accusations for an incomplete functioning of HCJ, allegedly caused by the representative of the government in this Council, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Brikena Kasmi. These accusations received an answer by the other HCJ member, Besnik Imeraj from the Supreme Court, who debated with Mrs. Kasmi.

“HCJ members must be protected, especially you that come from the judge panel. If HCJ has turns into a political institution, I will publicly demand the resignation of all persons that brought politics in this Council”, Kasmi declared.

The HCJ member that was selected by the Parliament, Lefteri Lleshi demanded explanations by Mr. Spahiu for his status as vice chairman and for the involvement of the Red and Black Alliance.

“Mr. Spahiu must review his position regarding his working title. What you are saying, Mr. Spahiu, is wrong, and you are making psychological pressure”, Lleshi declared.

Spahiu considered these declarations as political pressure, filled with messages against human right activities.

Sources say that after the media left the room, the situation was calmer. HCJ Vice Chairman spoke about the Electoral College, distancing himself from any accusation addressed to the Electoral College.

“We followed the debate with great concern. Unfortunately, after several months, this debate seems to transfer together with its political problems inside the High Council of Justice. This cannot happen. We heard the accusations that were addressed to the judges of the Electoral College, and the accusations of the political factors against the judges. The High Council of Justice had a long discussion and decided to distance itself from every accusation addressed to the Electoral College or their specific members; accusations that are not based on facts and proofs. We ask every political factor to address these accusations to the Albanian prosecution. When there have been facts and proofs for a criminal act or corruption, HCJ has removed the immunity for 100% of the cases and has authorized the prosecution to proceed”, Spahiu declared.

Afterwards there were reactions from the Presidency, which appealed to not transfer political debates into the judicial system.

“The Albanian President has closely followed the public and institutional debates regarding the concerns raised by the Electoral College members. The President approved the request of the Electoral College to include their letter in the schedule of the High Council of Justice. The approval of this request does not mean to undertake the solution of pretenses that do not belong to HCJ. These cannot be a solution object at HCJ, because the law clearly provides the way it will be made and the legal institution where they will be addressed to. As for the presence of the President in the next HCJ meeting, President Topi declared that in full accordance with the constitutional competences, he has exerted the functions of the HCJ chairman at any time. His presence or the delegation for leading this meeting on the daily schedule is up to the judgment of the President. When the cases have been completely technical, the President has delegated the leading of the meeting to others, by fully respecting and trusting the capabilities of the HCJ members, their professional judgments and expertise. The Albania President appeals all main political actors and the media controlled by them to not attempt to transfer their political disagreements to the judicial system”, declared the Spokesperson for the President, Mimoza Koçiu.

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