Albania’s High Judicial Council (KLGJ) has approved a 65,600 lekë increase in the reference salary for judges, in a decision that has triggered a strong reaction from the opposition.

The decision was approved on Wednesday with 9 votes in favor and none against. According to the KLGJ, the increase will take effect from August 1, 2026.

Under the new decision, the reference salary for judges will rise from 156,800 lekë to 222,425 lekë. Judges will also receive an additional 14,000 lekë qualification allowance.

The KLGJ has also approved a proposal to compensate judges for the salary increase it says was not applied during the period from April 1, 2023, to July 31, 2026.

The decision prompted a reaction from Democratic Party (PD) Parliamentary Group Chair Gazment Bardhi, who described the situation as “a serious institutional deadlock.”

Bardhi accused the government and the parliamentary majority of repeatedly refusing to implement decisions of the Constitutional Court.

According to Bardhi, the failure to enforce the court’s decisions puts at risk the democratic functioning of the state and the principle of separation of powers.

The opposition leader’s remarks add a political dimension to the debate over judicial salaries, which comes amid broader discussions about the independence and functioning of Albania’s judiciary.