A total of 92 magistrates, including judges and prosecutors, who were permanently removed from the judicial system through the vetting process, have received approximately €12 million in additional interim salary payments, according to court rulings.

Taking advantage of a legal provision that allows public officials to receive additional pay if dismissed or demoted, the former officials filed lawsuits against the Social Insurance Institute (ISSH). They requested payments ranging from 40% to 75% of their gross salary, based on their positions and years of service, covering periods from one to three years.

Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly denounced the cases in a harsh post on X, criticizing the court decisions that, he said, treat the dismissed officials “not as guilty, but as victims deserving compensation.” Rama added that many of these rulings were executed without a final appellate decision, forcing ISSH to make payments from the pension fund.

Under Albania’s vetting law, judges and prosecutors initially dismissed by the first-level vetting body (KPK) were entitled to receive 75% of their salaries for years while suspended, even though they did not perform any duties while awaiting final decisions from the Appeal Vetting Commission (KPA).