Central bank seeks legal immunity

Albania’s central bank is pushing for new laws that would shield top officials from arrest.

The draft proposal requires express approval from the Constitutional Court before police can detain the Governor or their deputies. While the bank claims this preserves its independence, critics warn it creates a dangerous barrier against corruption probes.

The new rules

Under the plan, the Court has just two weeks to approve any arrest request from prosecutors. If the Court misses this deadline, the request is automatically rejected. This shift removes standard legal oversight, handing exclusive power to the Constitutional Court.

This is highly unusual. In most European nations, central bank chiefs remain fully subject to standard criminal laws, as immunity is typically reserved for official duties rather than personal conduct.

Past scandals, future risks

The move is sensitive in Albania, following high-profile banking scandals like the 2014 arrest of then-Governor Ardian Fullani.

Critics argue these new legal hurdles could create a "safe zone" for bank leaders. By adding layers of bureaucracy between prosecutors and suspects, the law could make it significantly harder to hold the institution’s top brass accountable for future financial wrongdoing.