Proposal to amend the Constitution adopted: Immunity of Government members for corruption-related criminal offences to be abolished

At its 123rd session held on 16 April, the Government adopted the Proposal for Amendments to the Constitution, abolishing the immunity of Government members for criminal offences against official duty, and submitted it to the parliamentary procedure.

The proposed solution amends Article 86, paragraph 4 of the Constitution, excluding immunity for the Prime Minister and members of the Government in cases of criminal offences against official duty, which constitute the core of corruption. The proposal is based on the principle of precision and is aligned with the existing structure of the Criminal Code.

This represents a strong systemic measure aimed at preventing corruption and strengthening legal integrity, sending a clear message of the Government’s commitment to adhering to the highest anti-corruption standards. It also fulfills an important recommendation of GRECO from the Fifth Evaluation Round concerning the integrity of persons holding top executive positions.

The objectives of this proposal are to strengthen the rule of law, improve the framework for corruption prevention, align with the highest international standards, and accelerate EU integration, as the action plan for implementing GRECO recommendations is one of the benchmarks under Chapter 23.

The proposal was submitted by the Deputy Prime Minister for Political System, Judiciary and Anti-Corruption, Momo Koprivica. It is also one of the key proposals put forward to the Government by the National Council for the Fight against Corruption, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Koprivica, and was adopted unanimously by the Government.