Albania’s Ministry of Finance has rejected claims by the country’s judicial institutions that judges and prosecutors have had their August salaries blocked, saying the payments were delayed because payrolls were submitted under a different methodology.

The ministry said the High Council of the Judiciary (KLGJ) and High Prosecutorial Council (KLP) submitted their August payrolls using calculations that are not currently in force.

In a letter to both institutions, the Finance Ministry asked them to resubmit the August payrolls and travel expenses using the methodology applied through July, arguing that the proposed changes to magistrates’ salaries have not yet been approved by Albania’s Parliament.

The ministry acknowledged that a Constitutional Court ruling is binding, but said its implementation requires legislative changes to be approved by Parliament.

According to the ministry, the issue is therefore not a decision to block salaries, but compliance with the current legal framework until Parliament adopts the necessary amendments.

The KLGJ and KLP have been asked to resubmit the August payrolls without delay so that the salaries can be processed immediately.