Former Socialist MP "shoots" Balluku: Flagrant cases of corruption should be criminally reported

Critical voices within the ranks of the Socialists seem to be increasing, while former MP Petro Koçi has issued a series of messages that have been interpreted as direct signals to senior leaders of the majority.

In a lengthy reaction regarding the civic protests and the fight against corruption, Koçi demanded that the Socialist Party reflect deeply on its way of functioning, questioning the model of concentrating power in politically delegated persons.

Without mentioning specific names, he implied that individuals under investigation or prosecution should not continue to hold important political positions. A statement that was read as a jab at powerful figures within the government, including Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.

Koçi emphasized that the government should not delegate the entire burden of the fight against corruption to SPAK, but should react itself to flagrant cases of abuse of office.

The former socialist MP went even further, proposing a special law that would lift the immunity of senior officials for at least the next ten years, as well as further strengthening the powers of SPAK.

Full reaction

While publicly expressing support for SPAK's recent actions against organized crime that has spread its tentacles of money laundering into construction, land acquisition and appropriation, etc., I cannot help but react again to the nightly protests on Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard.

Most of the participants there are idealists, dissatisfied with the administration and missionaries for purely public issues. Of course, the political fuel comes mainly from the right side, sidelined by Sali Berisha, from all kinds of achievers who see chances to be promoted in the future in the Assembly. There is also no shortage of leaders of social media parties who make us like political journalists with cell phones in hand.

The National Front's slogan "Albania for Albanians, death to traitors" confirms the attempt to use the protest as a revenge of the right against the left.

But the protest of idealists must be used as popular energy to develop a guaranteed institutional democracy, strengthen the fight against corruption through the empowerment of SPAK, and establish standards for equality and contemporary social solidarity.

The SP does not need submission, but serious reflection that includes constitutional and legal reform at these points:

1-Cancellation of the constitutional amendments of April 21, 2008 proposed by Sali Berisha that turned the Republic from a parliamentary to a prime ministerial one.

This would create breathing space and oxygen for parliament's control over the executive.

2- Legal strengthening of the functionality and efficiency of SPAK accompanied by a special law that removes the immunity of senior officials for at least the next 10 years.

3-Design and approval of an electoral system that guarantees pluralism and representative equality in relation to votes at the national level.

4-Strict supervision and penalization for the involvement of state administration in electoral processes.

5- Undertaking a practical reform in the functioning and results of the Cadastre, where a long-awaited solution would be the transfer of the competence for issuing certified property certificates to notaries.

Meanwhile, the government cannot leave the fight against corruption solely in the hands of SPAK. Flagrant cases of abuse must be accompanied by public administrative measures and criminal charges.

The SP itself needs to replace the scheme of concentrating power from the hands of delegates to those elected by the grassroots structures.

And of course, to exempt from delegation any individual under criminal prosecution.

Finally, I emphasize that protests should be treated with maturity, neither with hostility, nor with naivety.

Let its clean part serve as an investment for more democracy and not simply for changing the seats of power.

Only the majority and the people benefit from democracy.

Only in this way would the protest promote, rather than hinder, the European integration that is knocking at the door.

Even a struggle for sovereignty simply for power in the case of protest would be just a new form of corruption!