41 minutes agoReuters: Investigation into corruption at the heart of Albania's government threatens travel towards EU
Periskopi(5 months ago)
(5 months ago)As protesters dropped the Molotov bombs towards the Albanian government building in central Tirana last week, and police responded with tear gas and water cannons, a echoing call: “Rama flees home! This corrupt government has to resign! So Reuters launches a document on corruption investigations against the deputy prime minister [...]
So Reuters launches a writing on corruption investigations against Albania's deputy prime minister, Belinda Balluk, the international news agency, Reuters.
Tensions had increased since the Special Prosecution, known as SPAK, filed charges against Prime Minister Edi Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluk, in December, under suspicion of interfering with the delivery of two construction contracts in 2021 worth over 200m euros.
Balluk, a rising star which Rama seems to see as possible successor, denies wrongdoing, and he has supported it all along.
But the consequences, exacerbated by a series of corruption scandals over the past year, have escalated.
The ongoing protests and the fact that the crisis includes one of its closest allies presents a considerable challenge for Rama, who has led the Balkan nation since 2013, easily won re-election last year for the fourth time and has good relations with leaders from Brussels to Washington.
This could also complicate his plan to join the EU by 2030.
“Albania must understand that to become a member of the EU, respecting rule of law is a precondition”, said Andy Hoxhaj, Balkan expert at Kings College London. “This should be absorbed, otherwise it won't look good for the EU”.
In response to questions from Reuters, Rama's spokeswoman defended his balance.
“Albania deserves membership (in the EU) for many reasons, and fighting corruption without any hesitation is one of them”, Manjola Hasa said.
Albania was isolated from the world for nearly 50 years under a communist regime that fell in the early 1990s. As in many parts of Eastern Europe, the end of communism brought a period of rampant corruption.
However, justice reforms in 2016, the establishment of SPAK in 2019, and sustainable economic growth strengthened its argument for EU membership.
Talks with the EU began in 2022 and on November 17th last year Albania opened the final negotiating chapter as one of the leading countries in the EU's project for expansion in the Balkans.
Three days later, an SPAK press release declared the indictment against Balluk.
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