TIRANA, Jan 22 /ATA/ – Constitutional Court will hold a public hearing on Thursday on the suspension of Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure and Energy Minister Belinda Balluku, ordered by the Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO).
The hearing, scheduled for 10:00 a.m., will be attended by representatives of the Special Prosecution Office, the government and the President.
The Special Court against Corruption and Organized Crime said it would not participate in the proceedings, arguing it cannot be recognized as a party in a constitutional case filed by the Prime Minister.
“In a democratic state governed by the rule of law and the separation of powers, a court cannot be summoned or legitimized as a party in constitutional proceedings to defend a decision it has issued,” GJKKO said in a statement, adding that such participation would undermine judicial independence.
Balluku has returned to office under an interim ruling by the Constitutional Court, pending a full review of the Prime Minister’s appeal. However, a travel ban imposed by GJKKO remains in place.
The government is seeking to overturn the decision to suspend Balluku and to resolve a dispute over institutional powers between the prime minister and the Council of Ministers on one side and GJKKO on the other over the suspension of a cabinet member.
Separately, Parliament’s Committee on Rules, Mandates and Immunity is due to meet on Jan. 28 to continue reviewing a request by the Special Prosecution Office for authorization to replace Balluku’s current preventive measure with arrest or detention.
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