SPAK said that prosecutors have requested a preventive seizure of real estate in Palasa, which they suspect is secretly owned by the former minister.

The investigation results that the defendant Belinda Balluku has in de facto ownership the immovable property “Family Villa 2F no.188/1, Nukli 27”, in the “Green Coast” complex, Palasa, Himara, which has resulted to be a hidden asset.

To hide this undeclared asset, the defendant Belinda Balluku used citizen Igli Tare, carrying out fictitious actions through the undertaking contract, dated 26.10.2020, in the amount of 250,000 euros, said SPAK. /r.e/p.s./

Speaking on his weekly “Let’s Talk” (Flasim) podcast, Rama said parliament had carefully reviewed the request submitted by the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution Structure (SPAK) and decided not to approve the request for arrest.

According to the prime minister, lawmakers assessed the available material and concluded that the request should not be authorised, adding that MPs should not be treated merely as instruments in the fight against corruption when no corruption or personal enrichment is alleged.

Rama also criticised the widespread use of pre-trial detention in Albania, saying the country has one of the highest shares of detainees awaiting trial among member states of the Council of Europe.

“About 58% of the prison population in Albania consists of individuals who have not yet been tried,” he said, arguing that many suspects could be investigated while remaining free. “

He stressed that members of parliament are equal before the law and can be investigated like any other citizen, but restrictions on personal liberty must be based on clear legal grounds and evidence.

Rama said the case concerns allegations of violating equality in public tenders several years ago, without charges of corruption or embezzlement.

He added that the parliamentary decision not to authorise detention does not stop prosecutors from continuing their investigation or requesting other precautionary measures.

Rama also noted that Balluku no longer holds an executive position, arguing that there is therefore no risk of interference with the investigation.

“Arrest, as the most severe precautionary measure, should be the last tool, not the first,” he said.

The prime minister also rejected claims that the decision could harm European Union integration, saying Albania’s path toward membership remains unaffected.

/gj.m/j.p/u.sh/

Balluku had argued that the measure should be lifted because it had effectively lost its purpose after she was relieved of those posts at the end of February.

Judge Erion Çela ruled to dismiss the request filed by Balluku.

Under Albanian law, she has five days to appeal the decision at the Special Appeal Court.

The ruling comes a day after the Parliament of Albania voted with 82 votes against authorizing the request by SPAK – the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecution Structure – to lift Balluku’s parliamentary immunity.

/gj.m/u.sh/

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.”

/a.g/u.sh/

The statement came ahead of a parliamentary session expected to vote on a draft decision authorising the arrest or detention of lawmaker Belinda Balluku through a change to her current security measure.

The Embassy emphasized the importance of maintaining the rule of law and judicial independence, while recognising Albania’s progress on judicial reform since 2016, including the creation of the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution Structure (SPAK).

“The Executive, Judiciary and Legislature remain equal partners in upholding that progress as part of Albania’s goal to achieving EU accession,” British Embassy stated.

“While Parliamentary immunity should protect democratic processes, it should not be an obstacle to equal accountability before the law,” the Embassy concluded.

/gj.m/u.sh/

Ulsi Manja, head of the parliamentary legal affairs committee, presented a report on a request by the Special Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime Prosecution Structure of Albania (SPAK) seeking parliament’s authorization to arrest Balluku.

Speaking at a meeting of the Socialist parliamentary group, attended by Prime Minister Edi Rama, Manja said the case should be viewed in light of what he described as a “new legal and institutional reality.”

Manja said Balluku no longer holds executive office following recent government changes, meaning the precautionary measure suspending her from ministerial duties no longer produces legal consequences.

“For the same reason, the prosecution’s arguments for stricter measures – such as the risk of evidence tampering, leaving the country or committing another offence – remain largely hypothetical, as they are linked to executive powers the lawmaker no longer exercises,” Manja said.

SPAK has requested that parliament authorize replacing the current measure – a ban on leaving the country – with a more severe measure, including possible house arrest or detention.

According to Manja, under Albanian law such a change can be sought only if the need for security measures has increased or if the person concerned has violated the existing restrictions.

“The second case does not apply,” he said, noting that Balluku had complied with the travel ban imposed by the court.

Manja said the ruling majority would recommend that parliament reject SPAK’s request to authorize a stricter security measure.

Balluku has been under investigation by SPAK since August 2024 over procedures related to the construction of the Llogara Tunnel and over several lots of the Tirana Outer Ring Road project. Prosecutors accuse the former minister of violating equality in public tenders.

Under Constitution of Albania, lawmakers cannot be arrested or detained without prior authorization from parliament, a mechanism designed to maintain institutional balance between the legislative and judicial branches.

/e.i/a.f/u.sh/

The ruling by the appeals chamber of the Special Court of Appeal for Corruption and Organized Crime upheld a Nov. 22, 2025 decision by the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime to impose the precautionary measure.

The decision was issued by a single-judge panel following Balluku’s appeal against the earlier ruling.

In addition to the suspension from office, the court has also imposed a travel ban on Balluku.

Balluku has been charged by the Special Anti-Corruption and Anti-Crime Prosecution Structure (SPAK) over procedures related to the construction of the Llogara Tunnel and is also under investigation over seven segments of the Tirana Outer Ring Road project. Prosecutors accuse the former minister of the criminal offence of violating equality in public tenders.

/m.q/a.f/u.sh/

During meeting of the SP parliamentary group, Rama said that he will not comment on the process that has been initiated in the Parliament on this issue, but he will express his stance after reading the report of the Mandates Council.

Rama recalled the accusation against Balluku focuses on violating the principle of equal tender participation, rather than direct bribery.

“Belinda Balluku has offered her resignation on three separate occasions following the initial accusation.  But, I have refused her to throw in the towel”, said Rama.

Rama focused on the country’s revolutionary phase, where—unlike established democracies—the judiciary is only just asserting its independence.

In this regard, the prime minister emphasized that, “We cannot join the dance of automatic resignations whenever an allegation is made, but we must do our part, and trust the wheels of justice to do theirs”. /a.f/p.s./

The meeting began with debates, after the opposition said that the majority has been dragging out the SPAK request for more than two months.

“You have obstructed justice for 2 months, you have violated the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure,” said the head of the Parliamentary group in the Democratic Party Gazment Bardhi.

Bardhi also requested that the meeting should be held open to the public and that the reporters should be allowed to attend.

“In principle, the meetings of the Assembly bodies are open and there is no reason for this meeting to be held behind closed doors. You, Mr. Speaker, have the obligation to put this to a vote,” said Bardhi.

But, Head of the Parliamentary group in the Socialist Party Taulant Balla said it was ridiculous that the opposition was rejecting SPAK’s request for a closed-door meeting, adding, “How unfortunate for Albania to have such an opposition.” “It is incomprehensible and ridiculous that the DP is rejecting the prosecutor’s request for a closed-door meeting, accepting only part of the same request,” Balla said.

The Special Prosecution Office will be represented by three prosecutors at the meeting, the head of SPAK Klodian Braho and the two prosecutors who are investigating Belinda Balluku, Dritan Prençi and Dorina Bejko.

Balluku has been charged with violating equality in tenders for the Llogara Tunnel, while the Special Court has imposed two security measures against her: suspension from her duties as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, and a ban on leaving the country. /a.f/p.s./

Upon concluding, Prime Minister Edi Rama presented three key conclusions:

First of all, according to Rama, Constitutional functions are non-delegable and cannot be suspended, as doing so paralyzes the state institution, regardless of the individual holder.

Secondly, the prime minister emphasized, The Court unanimously agrees a problem exists, yet lacks consensus on the solution. As legislators, we will intervene to resolve this constitutional ambiguity through legal changes.

Thirdly, by keeping the suspension in place, SPAK gains the advantage of pursuing its investigation without distraction, allowing them to defer the urgency of their subsequent requests until the legal standing of the suspension is fully settled, Rama wrote, referring to today’s meeting of the SP parliamentary group.

SPAK is not hindered—it is empowered, said the prime minister.

Every prosecutor’s mandate to investigate remains inviolate and fully guaranteed. These measures do not infringe upon the separation of powers; they reaffirm the constitutional independence of both the legislative and executive branches, concluded PM Rama. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./