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Investigations against Belinda Balluku, EC report: SPAK requested her arrest, but the Parliament refused to lift her immunity!

Politiko 2026-07-17 19:35:34

The European Commission's latest report on the rule of law in Albania has focused on developments related to former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation by SPAK for issues related to corruption and tender procedures.

In its document, the European Commission raises concerns about the way Albanian institutions have handled requests from judicial bodies, emphasizing respect for the principles of checks and balances, as well as equality before the law.

According to the report, in March 2026, the Assembly rejected SPAK's request to lift the immunity of a deputy accused of violating the principle of equality in tender procedures. This decision, according to the European Commission, raised questions about the functioning of institutional control mechanisms and the equal application of the law for all.

"The Assembly's refusal to lift the immunity of a deputy has raised concerns regarding respect for the principles of checks and balances, as well as equality before the law,"  the report states.

What is the relationship between Belinda Balluku and Spak?

The European Commission has also noted the initiatives of a group of deputies of the parliamentary majority for amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. These amendments aim to expand the category of public officials to whom the measure of suspension from office during criminal proceedings cannot be applied.

According to the EC, such legal intervention could negatively affect the effectiveness of criminal investigations, especially in cases related to corruption at high levels of administration and politics.

“The Assembly’s refusal to lift the immunity of a deputy has raised concerns regarding the respect of the principles of checks and balances, as well as equality before the law. In March 2026, the Assembly rejected SPAK’s request to lift the immunity of a deputy, accused of violating the principle of equality in tender procedures. This refusal raised concerns regarding the respect of the principles of institutional checks and balances, as well as equality before the law.

In parallel, a group of deputies from the parliamentary majority proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code aimed at expanding the category of public officials to whom suspension from office during criminal proceedings cannot be applied, as a precautionary measure. These amendments have raised concerns that they could harm the effectiveness of criminal investigations, especially investigations into high-level corruption, and create a perception of impunity ,” the report states.

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