TIRANA, Dec 12 /ATA/ – Constitutional Court on Friday reinstated Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Belinda Balluku, overturning a first instance court ruling that had removed her from office.
After accepting Prime Minister Edi Rama’s appeal in the case, the court voted 5 – 3 to suspend the enforcement of two decisions by the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime that ordered Deputy PM Balluku’s suspension last month.
The decision allows Balluku to immediately resume her duties, while public hearing on the merits will be held on 22 January.
The panel of judges reviewed the prime minister’s request concerning an institutional dispute between the government and the Special Court over the authority to suspend a member of the Council of Ministers.
With a majority vote, the Constitutional Court suspended the enforcement of two GJKKO rulings issued on 19 and 22 November 2025, insofar as they imposed or upheld the preventive measure barring Balluku from exercising public duties, in line with Article 45 of the court’s organic law. The suspension decision will be published in the Official Gazette.
The judges also voted to send the case to a public plenary hearing, citing its high public interest, and called as interested parties the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK), the Special Court, the Albanian Parliament and the President of the Republic.
However, the GJKKO-imposed travel ban preventing Balluku from leaving the country remains in force.
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