TIRANA, March 13 /ATA/ – Prime Minister Edi Rama said on Friday that former Deputy Prime Minister and lawmaker Belinda Balluku faces no corruption charges, adding that investigations can continue despite parliament’s decision on her immunity.
Asked by reporters about reactions from several embassies following a vote in Parliament regarding Balluku’s immunity, Rama said international statements emphasized the need to continue the fight against corruption.
According to the government head, the statements do not say what some commentators have claimed, but instead stress the importance of continuing investigations and anti-corruption efforts.
“I read those statements properly, because unlike others who interpret them differently, I compare them with the direct communications I have with those who issued them,” Rama said, adding that discussions with international partners on the issue had been constructive.
Referring to the specific case, Rama reiterated that there were no grounds for authorizing an arrest in the absence of corruption charges.
“Parliament is not a notary of the prosecution office. It has the right to assess whether the legal conditions are met, without entering into the merits of the case,” Rama said. “There is no corruption charge and none of the conditions for such a measure are fulfilled.”
Rama also addressed concerns about the potential impact of the vote on European Union accession talks, saying he was speaking on the basis of current facts and communications rather than speculation about the future.
“We have had a discussion that I do not deny, but it has been fully constructive,” Rama said. “We do not see anyone coming forward and saying that because of this we cannot move ahead.”
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