Finance Minister Petrit Malaj has defended the Ministry of Finance’s decision to block additional salary payments requested for judges and prosecutors, days after a criminal complaint was filed with the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) against him and senior Treasury officials.

The complaint, filed on September 8 by 20 court authorizing officers, together with the heads of the Union of Judges, the National Association of Judges and the Association of Prosecutors, calls for an investigation into Malaj, Secretary General Gentian Këri and officials overseeing 16 Treasury branches over the withholding of August salaries.

Malaj described the case as an escalation of tensions between the judiciary and the executive, arguing that the Ministry of Finance acted in accordance with the law.

“We refused to open the doors of the state treasury to release a significant amount of additional salary payments without a new decision by Parliament,” Malaj said.

According to the minister, the dispute concerns the implementation of a Constitutional Court ruling on magistrates’ salaries. He said the issue is expected to be addressed on September 17, when Parliament is scheduled to approve legislation granting the Ministry of Finance the administrative authority to implement the decision.

Malaj said the salary increases sought by judges and prosecutors would have a significant impact on the state budget. He cited an estimated additional annual cost of €40 million, while requests for retroactive salary adjustments covering 2023–2026 could have a total budgetary impact of €125 million.

The minister also urged Treasury officials named in the criminal complaint to continue carrying out their duties without intimidation and in strict accordance with the law.

The dispute has further intensified tensions between Albania’s judiciary and executive over the implementation and financial consequences of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on magistrates’ pay.