TIRANA, Dec 1 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha on Monday stated that the Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Court (GJKKO) had failed to ensure proportionality when it suspended Infrastructure and Energy Minister Belinda Balluku, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister.
Speaking at a press conference, DP chairman compared Balluku’s case with that of Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj, who is in custody awaiting trial on charges related to alleged misuse of public funds.
“Erion Veliaj is being held in custody over accusations of spending 1 euros million on a wardrobe, while she, with 50 million euros, is not. Where is the standard? Proportionality required detention, not suspension,” Berisha said.
He claimed the judge and prosecutor should explain what “interests” motivated their decision.
“What demands do they have toward the executive that they wanted to exert pressure? It’s slander, and this will be included in our lawsuit,” he added.
Berisha again linked the case to what he alleged were corrupt deals “made in Ankara,” accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama of exerting unprecedented pressure on the Constitutional Court.
Berisha said he opposed the government’s appeal of the Special Court decision, arguing that ministers who have been suspended in the past have chosen to resign rather than challenge the ruling. He accused Rama of undermining the separation of powers by contesting the measure.
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