The ruling Socialist Party has formally introduced amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code that would expand the list of senior officials exempt from suspension while under investigation.

The proposed changes, presented at the weekly meeting of the Socialist parliamentary group, target Article 242 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which regulates the suspension of public officials from duty.

Under the current law, only three categories are exempt from suspension: members of parliament, mayors and municipal council members elected by popular vote. The new proposal would add seven additional high-ranking positions, making them ineligible for suspension under any circumstances.

The posts include the President, the prime minister, the deputy prime minister and government ministers, as well as judges of the Constitutional Court. The Ombudsman and the head of the Supreme State Audit would also be shielded from suspension.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has indicated that further amendments could follow, as he has repeatedly raised concerns in recent weeks about pretrial detention practices and what he described on Monday as the targeting of public administration employees by certain prosecutors.

The initiative is expected to be submitted for a parliamentary vote in March.