Albania's anticorruption Authority is teaching the powerful to fear.

This special public prosecutor's office against corruption and organised crime has a similar role in Southeast European country as the office of public economic prosecutor and corruption in Austria. Nearly every week, a politician from Edi Rama's Socialist Party (PS), who has been leading the country for the past ten years, is currently being targeted by prosecutors.

Last week, for example, former Deputy Health Minister Klodjan Rjepi was arrested as suspected of abuse of office as part of a procurement contract. Former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri has been charged with drug trafficking and abuse of office after his two cousins were arrested in Italy in October 2017. He was later acquitted of drug trafficking charges in two trials. Since then he has been released from prison with the reasoning that his wife cannot care for two children.

“Criminal acts don't have separate parties”

Former Environment Secretary Lefter Coca was arrested in December 2021 on corruption charges. At the time, Rama wrote on Facebook that it was neither political nor party issues.

Former SP President Alqi Blaco was arrested in March 2022 on suspicion of indirectly taking bribes of over 120 thousand euros. And the former mayor of Durres Vangush Dako was arrested in June this year as suspected of abuse of office.

And from time to time, party leadership and Edi Rama themselves avoid any responsibilities on the grounds that these are individual “set” and criminal acts do not have “party membership”.

At least so far, Rama has succeeded through this strategy.

Edlira John of McCain Institute says: I don't believe for a second that Rama herself doesn't know anything about the machines of these SP politicians. And I never believed in the tale that he was introducing an innovative change for more legitimacy”. The prime minister would support reforms to improve the rule of law, because this is necessary even in the context of approaching the EU; at the same time, however, members of his party would be saved with minor sentences.

“Every time there are accusations against SP politicians, he initially refuses them until there is much evidence or international diplomats put pressure on him and only then is he distanced from these politicians”John said.

Rama's conduct shows no integrity or principle. Amazingly, Rama not only protects the oligarchs associated with his party, but also those who have been with the Democratic Party when it was in power. There's a dialogue fight at the party. It's about money, such as public contracts.

Actually, Rama's SP has already expanded its dominant position in Albania through its power in institutions through nepotism and job sharing. The divided opposition inside is not moving anywhere. Politics in Albania has been characterised by polarisation since the beginning of democracy in the early 1990s. Tony is tough, has little will to compromise, and political competitors are seen as enemies.

Haughty Conduct

In this political culture, Rama has always portrayed herself as a victim, while the tally who likes to walk with athletes has excessive self - confidence and has created the ruler's atmosphere and graces. He is arrogant, flaming, and aggressive, especially toward media representatives. He often names journalists as <x0lahhra” and advises them to be educated before they ask another question.

Recently, for example, Rama refused to answer questions that did not belong to subjects he specified, but had to deal with criminal charges against SP politicians. Journalists' organisations continue to complain about Rama's behaviour. Now he runs his podcast, in which he tries to explain his policy without critical questions from journalists. His government has repeatedly tried to make it difficult for journalists to impose defamation penalties.

It is clear that Rama is not comfortable that he cannot control all media and media representatives. He hired veteran Dr Alastair Campbell, who had worked for former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The idea that politics has only to sell naturitives to the audience prompted Rama's arrogance.

It is unlikely that someone dares oppose the prime minister, who occasionally shouts at government meetings. Because if you don't, they can get you out. Former Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati was replaced in 2018 because, unlike Rama, he opposed an exchange of territories between Serbia and Kosovo. Rama, who has been in power with him for about as long as Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Both men, <x0Walfa”, authoritarians, on the other hand, cannot get along with neighbouring Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, a principled and democratic intellectual.

Democratic deficits

Rama recently stabbed Kurti in the back and cancelled a meeting of the Kosovo government and the Albanian government in June after the US and EU had previously punished the Kurti government for failing to yield to Western directives. The current US policy, led by the idea that Tirana should exercise some sort of auspices on the Albanian population in the region, including Kosovo and Northern Macedonia, further promotes Rama's notion of greatness and its importance. On the western side, there is hardly any criticism of the head of government, who likes to appear as a world artist.

Politologist Africa Krasniqi from Tirana believes Rama was particularly successful in “sharing” of itself in the West.

But for us he is not the artist, athlete and modern and reform-oriented author”. In his place he appears with <x0) arrogance and communist mentality towards liberal critics and political opponents”. Krasniqi shows that democracy is missing, especially within the SP, because Rama does not allow it. Rama's power is also based on his controlling oligarchs as institutions.

In doing so, it also entered “an informal alliance with several criminal groups”, Krasniqi says. I don't think Rama is personally involved in the crime, but I think he tolerates criminal groups associated with his party”, He analyzes. Because without their help he would not have the majority in the country.

In any case, Edi Rama's Albania is in a disapproving and contradictory state. On the one hand, many corrupt prosecutors and judges were dismissed as a result of the justice reform Rama was seeking. On the other hand, the government continues to exert influence. Especially the police. Someone must have told Arben Ahmetaj once ruling to be arrested.

The former deputy prime minister has since fled to Britain.