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The representatives of the American and European diplomacy in Tirana used a conference on the day of justice held on Friday in Tirana to assure the general public but also the officials of the justice system of the support for the Special Structure Against Organized Crime and Corruption against the statements by insinuations of various functionaries of the socialist majority and speculations that SPAK could be placed under attack from both sides of politics, apparently dissatisfied with the investigations so far on corruption, abuse of office or violation of equality in tenders.
The US Chargé d'Affaires in Albania, David Wisner, said that "Justice Reform and its successes are irreversible" while he did not spare praise for the results so far.
"We fully expect that the institutions that were created 112 years ago, created in 2016, will be here for a long time. There is no discussion about this because it is the Albanian people who have expressed that they want this," said Wisner.
Addressing justice system officials, Wisner said "your work to improve governance, rule of law and anti-corruption is promising." But he added that "more must be done by politicians, by institutions and by anyone who is interested in a stronger democracy in Albania."
The same message was conveyed by the EU ambassador in Tirana, Silvio Gonzato, who said that "justice reform must be carried out and these results must serve the citizens".
"The reform in justice is irreversible, and the achievements of SPAK must be like this" - he emphasized, adding that "the EU supports the justice system and will protect all justice institutions".
The messages of the godfathers of this reform, which was approved in 2016 by political consensus, come at a time when there are voices from the majority that allude to a short-term lifespan of the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK).
A week ago, during an interview on Public Television, the Minister of Justice Ulsi Manja described this structure as temporary with a 9-year term, while prosecutors have a 9-year term without the right to reappointment.
Ambiguous statements and speculation that the two main political parties may have agreed behind closed doors to legal changes that could undermine the Special Structure Against Organized Crime and Corruption are believed to have created uncertainty among prosecutors and judges, who regularly face attacks or negative opinions from both sides of politics.
The main issue under discussion is the fate of SPAK prosecutors after their constitutional mandate expires. This mandate is nine years. Two main ideas circulate in this context, one that SPAK prosecutors be allowed a second term or without a term and the other that at the end of the term, they can be guaranteed a job in the Tirana appeal prosecution.
SPAK's work has created concerns on both sides of politics with the investigation of former senior state officials.
Recently, the majority has undertaken an initiative for a special bipartisan parliamentary commission to analyze the work of justice and to undertake new reforms, which according to it, will help in the anti-corruption fight. Although the Socialists insist that their effort is not intended to hit SPAK, the very discussion of whether or not it is intended seems to be enough to create undue pressure on them.
Wisner said the US would support reform efforts but hinted that these reforms must be "consistent with the Constitution and the independence of the judiciary."
Albania's western partners, the USA and the EU, have faced several times in the past with the governing majority regarding the independence of the judicial system. In the most significant case, in December 2022, former American ambassador Yuri Kim made several tense statements regarding the process of selecting the head of SPAK and warned of the risk of political interference in the process, while Prime Minister Edi Rama responded in one case saying that the head of SPAK "is not chosen by the embassy." / BIRN
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