By Boldnews.al
The deadline for applying for a judge’s position at the European Court of Human Rights expires on Tuesday, but the number of candidates is very low.
Boldnews.al learned that the few candidates who have applied are affiliates of the ruling Socialist Party. Meanwhile, a large number of experienced judges and lawyers have not joined the race, as they doubt the manner in which the commission set up by the Prime Minister’s Secretary General has been selected.
The race for a vacant seat for Albania in the Strasbourg Court is being held for the third time in a few months, as in the two previous cases the candidates have been ousted by the Commission of that court.
The Strasbourg court has not publicly explained why it has not accepted previous candidates from Albania for the vacancy. But the suspicions are that the candidacies forwarded by the Albanian government have been people that result in strong ties to the Socialist Party.
Among the former candidates struck down by the Strasbourg Court stands the name of former Prosecutor General Ina Rama. During her term in charge of the Albanian charge, she testified in favor of the Socialist Party, then in opposition.
Another candidate deposed by the Strasbourg Court was Gent Ibrahimi, brother-in-law of one of the main exponents of the Socialist Party, Mimi Kodheli.
The third candidacy previously rejected by the Strasbourg Court was Sokol Berberi, a close family connection with the Minister of Interior, Fatmir Xhafaj.
These links appear to have been the reason that the Strasbourg Court previously rejected Albanian government candidates to fill the vacancy at that important international institution.
Given this precedent, experienced Albanian jurists suspect that the government will re-select their predetermined candidacies, so they have not come close to running.
On the other hand, candidates for a judge in Strasbourg must prioritize the Wetting process. For many law and judicial experts, the Vetting Commission is under government control. For this reason, they suspect that, with a predetermined race, the government can “burn” potential candidates through its leverage in the Independent Qualification Commission (WET).
The announcement of the application for the vacancy of a member of the Strasbourg Court was published a few weeks ago on the official website of the institutions of justice:
(http://www.gjk.gov.al/web/NJOFTIM_P_R_APLIKIM_1587_1-1.php)
