TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s Parliament has approved a new law on the Bank of Albania, granting Governor Gent Sejko special protection against arrest and personal or home searches without prior parliamentary authorization in cases related to the exercise of his duties, as BIRN reports.
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According to BIRN, the version submitted to Parliament differed from the draft released for public consultation in July. The earlier version required authorization from the Constitutional Court for such measures, while the version put to a vote transferred that authority to Parliament.
The provision does not exempt the governor from criminal investigations or liability, but establishes a special procedure that prosecutors must follow before imposing certain coercive measures.
The proposal has drawn criticism from experts over its compatibility with the Constitution and the principle of equality before the law.
The new legislation also includes provisions expanding the Bank of Albania’s powers to classify information as confidential or secret, raising further questions about institutional accountability and transparency.