The Assembly of Albania held a marathon session on Thursday and approved several bills and decisions after extensive debate. The agenda included a law on the status of judges and prosecutors. The law also addresses magistrates’ salaries. MPs also approved government changes, changes to standing committees, and international agreements. The session opened with a joint declaration by all parliamentary groups concerning the Hague ruling in the case involving Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi. Speaker Niko Peleshi read the declaration. The agenda then continued with three interpellations and debates on other issues.

MPs Aulona Bylykbashi and Admir Kadeli proposed the law on the status of judges and prosecutors. The Assembly approved it with 84 votes in favor, 24 against and one abstention. Meanwhile, MPs approved the dismissal of Besfort Lamallari as interior minister with 83 votes. They also approved Ervin Demo as his successor with 83 votes. At the same time, the Assembly approved Demo’s dismissal as minister of state for local government. The change at the Interior Ministry received no votes against or abstentions.

The Assembly also approved several international agreements. It ratified the convention establishing the International Claims Commission for Ukraine with 102 votes in favor. It approved the Council of Europe framework convention on artificial intelligence, human rights, democracy and the rule of law with 107 votes. The Assembly also approved the International Olive Council’s decision to amend the international agreement on olive oil and table olives with 107 votes. MPs approved the draft law on designs with 102 votes in favor, one against and no abstentions.

Finally, the Assembly approved changes to the leadership, membership and substitute membership of its standing committees. The changes to committee leadership received 82 votes in favor and one against. Changes to committee membership received 80 votes in favor and one against, while changes involving substitute committee members received 81 votes in favor and one against. The Assembly postponed two other bills.

/a.p./