The Chairman of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, Gazment Bardhi, has accused the President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj, of having held hostage the swearing-in procedure of the elected constitutional judge, Asim Vokshi, for 47 days, thereby putting the Constitutional Court itself in a constitutional impasse.

Bardhi emphasizes that the President's intervention is "completely unconstitutional", as it violates the independence and integrity of the Constitutional Court and violates Article 129 of the Constitution, as well as Article 8 of Law No. 8577/2000 "On the Organization and Functioning of the Constitutional Court". According to him, no president before Bajram Begaj has acted in this way.

"From the first day in office, Bajram Begaj has served only the political interests of Edi Rama and the Socialist Party. The latter were transformed into a political shield to prevent the Constitutional Court from examining Bajram Begaj's serious violations of the Constitution and the law," Bardhi writes.

He calls for the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court to react immediately to what he calls "the desecration of the authority of the two highest courts in the country" and accuses the president as a "completely irresponsible" figure who is acting in favor of the interests of Edi Rama and his illegal and corrupt affairs.

Bardhi underlines that Begaj's inaction is preventing Judge Vokshi from taking office and is creating a dangerous precedent for the functioning of the Constitutional Court.

Gazment Bardhi's reaction:

After completely unconstitutionally interfering in the mandates of constitutional judges, violating the independence and integrity of the Constitutional Court, the President of the Republic has for 47 DAYS taken hostage the procedure for the swearing-in and commencement of duty of the elected constitutional judge Asim Vokshi, putting the Constitutional Court itself in a constitutional impasse.

This behavior of the President of the Republic, without giving any reasonable public explanation, is further evidence that he has long since lost his role as Head of State and guarantor of the Constitution. This inaction is in flagrant violation of Article 129 of the Constitution and Article 8 of Law No. 8577/2000 “On the Organization and Functioning of the Constitutional Court”. No President before him has dared to behave in this way with the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Albania.

From the first day in office, Bajram Begaj has served only the political interests of Edi Rama and the Socialist Party. The latter recently turned into a political shield to prevent the Constitutional Court from examining Bajram Begaj's serious violations of the Constitution and the law in the exercise of his duties as President of the Republic.

While no reflection is expected from Bajram Begaj, I appeal to the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court to react immediately to this desecration that is being done to the authority of the two highest courts in the country by a completely irresponsible man, taken hostage by Edi Rama for his illegal and corrupt affairs, both as Chief of the General Staff of the Army and as President of the Republic.