Economy
Parliament passes new Bank of Albania law with 84 votes, laying legal ground for a digital lek
The law strengthens the central bank's independence and bans monetary financing of the government, but the governor's immunity was narrowed compared with the original draft.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 29, 2026, 16:45 · Updated 18:43 · 1 min read
In brief
- The new law “On the Bank of Albania” passed with 84 votes and seeks alignment with Chapter 17 of the EU accession talks.
- Immunity covers only the governor and only for offenses related to the job, with authorization from Parliament rather than the Constitutional Court.
- The law creates the basis for a digital lek and brings the Bank of Albania under public procurement law from Jan. 1, 2028.
Albania's Parliament on Thursday approved the new law “On the Bank of Albania” with 84 votes in favor. The draft had been prepared by the central bank itself, but it underwent several important changes during parliamentary review, according to Ekofin.
The law aims to strengthen the bank's institutional, functional and financial independence, clarify its relations with the government and align Albanian legislation with EU standards under Chapter 17, “Economic and monetary policy.” Price stability remains the primary objective, while monetary financing of the public sector is explicitly banned.
What changed from the proposal
The original draft provided protection from arrest and searches for the governor and deputy governors, with authorization from the Constitutional Court. The approved version limits that protection to the governor alone, and only for criminal offenses related to the job, while requests for authorization go to Parliament. These provisions take effect once the Criminal Procedure Code is amended.
Parliament also kept the post of Inspector General, elected by Parliament for five years, instead of an audit director appointed by the Supervisory Council. The Supreme State Audit may audit only administrative activity and efficiency, not monetary policy, macroprudential decisions or the management of foreign exchange reserves.
Digital lek and procurement
The law creates a legal basis for a national digital currency: the digital lek would be legal tender alongside banknotes and coins, with exclusive issuing rights for the Bank of Albania. This does not mean immediate circulation. The bank loses its exemption from public procurement from Jan. 1, 2028, while the government can no longer suspend members of the Supervisory Council. Most provisions apply from Jan. 1, 2027.
