Judicial probe widens, new minister approved amid censorship issues.
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Albania's political landscape is marked by significant developments in its judicial system and government. The Constitutional Court has approved a formula for magistrate salaries, and the Albanian Assembly has endorsed a new salary increase for judges and prosecutors. However, the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) has initiated an investigation into the blocking of these salaries, questioning the Director of the Treasury and anticipating further testimonies from Finance Ministry officials. This comes as European prosecutors also voice concerns over the non-implementation of a Constitutional Court decision on magistrate remuneration.
In a key government change, the Albanian Parliament has approved Ervin Demo as the new Minister of Interior, a move that follows a recent reshuffle. Meanwhile, the country is grappling with issues of freedom of expression, as the closure of media pages on Meta platforms and the removal of protest activist profiles from Instagram raise alarms among journalists and civil society. These developments unfold amidst ongoing anti-government protests, with a recent demonstration outside Parliament escalating into tensions and leading to citizen detentions.
Further political debates continue, including a parliamentary clash between Prime Minister Edi Rama and Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku over citizen demands and opposition engagement in protests. The ongoing corruption probe against former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku also remains a point of contention, with opposition MP Gazment Bardhi questioning her alleged illicit assets in Parliament.