The justice system expects Haradinaj to raise salaries for prosecutors, judges

If the Kosovo government respects the Law then it would have to make a decision to raise salaries for judges and prosecutors. This, since the legal regulation basis, has established that income of the justice system should be the same as government cabinet salaries. In this situation, officials of judicial and prosecutorial powers are awaiting the Government's decision to raise wages as has happened to increased revenues for the prime minister, ministers, deputy ministers and advisers. If growth occurs, then the budget for the justice system should be added to at least 6m euros to cover wages for those who share justice.

On Thursday, Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj has made a decision to raise salaries for senior public officials and for a certain portion of civil servants. Under that decision Haradinaj from January, 2950 euros will be paid, while so far it has been paid 1550 euros a month. Thus Haradinaj, with the Government's decision to lead, has raised nearly 100 percent of his salary. The increase also applies to the ministers and deputy ministers of his government, as well as to his political advisers and staff.

But, rising salaries of senior public officials automatically bring growth to judges and prosecutors in Kosovo. So at least you're presenting the Law for Court and Prosecutor's. Their salaries, depending on the official's position, are equivalent to the pay of public officials.

But law-system employees still do not know whether this decision will benefit salary increases as well.

Kosovo Judiciary Council spokeswoman Ayshe Qorray has said this institution has not yet received any official announcement, with which it would announce they have increased wages proportionally.

The Judiciary Council has yet to accept any official information from the Government concerning this”, it has said via email.

Qorraj has said the position of the KDR is for Article 29 of the law to be implemented.

The Judiciary Council, as in any other case, expects the Law to be implemented in force, Article 29 of the Law on the Court by which the “Paga and Judiciary Compensation”, respectively, has said Qorray For Express.

Otherwise, if that article were to be implemented then the Supreme Court Chairman's salary would have to be equivalent to that of the prime minister of the Republic of Kosovo, which is 2950 euros. The Supreme Court Judges' salary will be equivalent to that of a ministry in Government, which amounts to 2,000 euros. The president of the Court of Appeals will accept an equivalent salary with that of the judges of the Supreme Court of Kosovo -- equivalent to a minister's salary. The president of the Constitutional Court will accept a wage equivalent to that of the Court of Appeals judge.

Meanwhile, former adviser to legal issues by former Prime Minister Isa Mustafa, Besnik Berisha, has said that any wage increases in Kosovo would have to be voted on by the elected deputies of the Parliament.

“I think that setting up salaries not only for the government, but for any citizen of the Republic of Kosovo to be regulated by law, for which the deputies of the Kosovo Assembly would have to vote, as provided for other laws regulating citizens' lives. The prime minister's decision could collapse in the Parliament, because the decision does not constitute law under any circumstances, in the concrete case it has produced consequences for itself and the government cabinet, but has not voted people's elected for the policies of Prime Minister”, Berisha has said.

He has called Prime Minister Haradinaj's move unrealistic and conflict of interest.

The prime minister has been able to raise everyone else's salary, civilian staff, advisers, legal office, etc., but for himself it is actually unrealistic, it is a conflict of interest for him to decide for himself. I do not expect the government to reflect, I expect the Parliament to address it as a matter, as a conflict of interest, to suspend this” decision, he has indicated.

This issue must be regulated by law, which would balance wage levels, which has been one of the promises, don't mistake, the European Commission for Stabilisation and Association Agreement. That law has never passed, and in the absence of willingness to advance such a law, it appears that someone has seen the way to regulate it by decision for himself”, Berisha has concluded.

Conflict of interest and criminal offence has called Kosovo's Parliament MP from the Vetevendosje Movement ranks Albulen Haxhiu, such pay increases on the part of the prime minister.

The Government's decision to raise salaries for the prime minister, ministers and others is a criminal offence. So does Mr. Haradinaj, but also the ministers who have voted this decision have committed criminal acts. I'll take this decision tomorrow to the Anti-Corruption Agency. Article 424 of the Penal Code prevents the official person from deciding on a matter of direct financial interest!”, Haxhiu” said.