TIRANA, February 26 /ATA/ Head of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group Gazment Bardhi reacted today to the stance of Prime Minister Edi Rama on Balluku.
Bardhi considered the prime minister’s stance during the meeting of the Socialist Party Parliamentary group as a hiccup in the process. He pointed at Rama’s decision to express his opinion on Balluku case only after the report of the Council of Mandates and Immunities in the Assembly.
The Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has demanded to lift the immunity of Belinda Balluku. Currently, by court decision, Balluku is suspended from the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, while SPAK has requested tightening of the security measure.
According to Bardhi, “It wasn’t enough a two months’ delay, but now the prime minister is asking for two more weeks for a report from his own MPs, for which he will give the order by himself.”
Referring to SPAK’s allegations against Balluku, Bardhi wrote in the social media that: “There are 11 tenders worth 1.1 billion euros, signed by Belinda Balluku, by order or knowledge of Edi Rama. Some are public projects that are currently collapsing and blocking citizens everywhere in the country. There are 16,000 pages of evidence that prove the corruption of Edi Rama’s government and senior administration. There are enough wiretaps that document the mafia’s blackmail of witnesses, through strongmen, dirty money and pressure on families.”
Bardhi added: “So, why is Edi Rama trying to buy more time? Why is he attacking justice? Why is he obstructing justice? It is no longer just about Belinda Balluku. Edi Rama is personally at stake. We have documented proof of his role in the tender decisions as in the SPAK anti-corruption file.”
According to the head of the DP Parliamentary group, “Unfortunately for Edi Rama, time does not change the facts. Postponement does not change responsibility. The longer the decision drags on, the clearer it becomes that the problem is not in drafting the majority report, but in Edi Rama’s fear of losing power.”
Bardhi also recalled the statements of the Chairman of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee. “Belinda Balluku case is a test for Albania in relation to the EU”. Integration is not measured by revolutionary speeches, but by acts that show that no one is above the law. When the government drags on to protect itself, citizens have no reason to wait.”
Bardhi also recalled the protest called on February 28 by the Democratic Party, emphasizing that it is the day when the fear of the government will once again face the determination of the citizens. “It is the day of Albanians who love Albania like all of Europe”, he concluded. /e.xh/p.s./
