While the majority seems distracted by investigative issues against ministers and former ministers, a former minister continues to prioritize the control of independent institutions. After the failure of the special commission to control SPAK and other justice institutions, Fatmir Xhafaj today in Parliament warned another head of the institution — that of the Supreme State Audit Office.
"It is this majority of this government that has given this institution, its employees, all the necessary support to carry out its duties with responsibility, accountability and professionalism," said Xhafaj, adding that the presented report shows a complex reality: an institution that has advanced in several directions, but that has not yet fulfilled its full constitutional potential.
During discussions on the annual report of the SAI in the joint committee with the economy, he praised the increase in audits in sectors with high fiscal risk, such as public procurement, infrastructure investments, public services and state asset management. However, Xhafaj stressed that numerous challenges remain, especially in determining the criteria for seniority, job movements and workload distribution, which — according to him — undermine the professionalism and motivation of staff.
In his speech, Xhafaj considered the issue of integrity and ethics of employees, especially auditors, a priority, calling for more efficiency, transparency and professionalism in the controlling role of the SAI. He also reacted to the abuses committed in the hall in the case of an employee of the institution, recalling that “The Supreme State Audit Office does not audit persons, nor functions, but institutions — and this is a matter of principle.”
In conclusion, the socialist deputy announced the establishment of a subcommittee for public sector auditing within the Economy Committee, which he called "a necessary mechanism to increase the accountability of the SAI and to answer the fundamental question of any control system: who controls the controller?"
