FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
SPAK leader Klodian Braho has arrived at the Assembly headquarters for the meeting of the Mandates Council, along with the two prosecutors handling the Belinda Balluku case, Dritan Prençi and Dorina Bejko.
Belinda Balluku's sister, Pamela Qirko, has also arrived at the Assembly in her capacity as a lawyer. So Balluku will be represented by Pamela Qirko in the Mandates Council, in addition to lawyer Ardian Kalija.
Today at 10:00, the Immunity Council meeting will take place in the Albanian Parliament to review the Special Prosecution's request against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku.
The latter has been suspended from duty, while SPAK is seeking her arrest.
Although Prime Minister Edi Rama had previously stated that there was no urgency in handling the request, arguing that Balluku could be easily investigated while she is suspended, it appears that this approach has changed.
Initially, the Socialists warned that they would await the publication of the Constitutional Court's decision, but the decision to convene the Immunity Council came after a request from the European Union, which emphasized the need for a rapid treatment of the issue of parliamentary immunity, as part of the commitments to fight corruption.
Lifting immunity from the Assembly would allow SPAK to seek other measures against Balluk, including prison arrest, house arrest, or home search measures.
However, for these measures, the authority of the Assembly remains decisive. For other actions such as “compulsory appearance” or passport control, SPAK does not need parliamentary authorization.
Meanwhile, the new amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, which require 84 votes in Parliament, cannot be valid in the Balluku case.
These changes limit the court's ability to take measures against individuals with high state positions, excluding arrest or suspension for certain categories, but do not affect the minister's current suspension measure.
The latest decision of the Constitutional Court, taken by a 4-4 vote, upheld the Supreme Court's decision to suspend Balluk from office, confirming that it is necessary for her to not exercise her duties while the investigation continues.
Balluku is under investigation by SPAK for violations of equality in the Llogara Tunnel tender and for several lots of the Great Ring Road.
Parliament is expected to address the immunity report in the plenary session on March 5.
On February 16, at a parliamentary group meeting, the Socialist Party proposed an initiative for legal amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code. The proposal, signed by Prime Minister Edi Rama, essentially includes seven new subjects to whom the security measure of suspension from office cannot be extended.
This concerns the President, the Ombudsman, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the ministers, the members of the Constitutional Court and the head of the Supreme State Audit Office.
The Prime Minister stated that the decision to suspend a minister is scandalous and unjustifiable as it does not affect the person, but the function. According to him, the proposed legal changes do not affect the judicial power and stated that the executive power is independent in its right to make decisions.
He underlined that Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has submitted her resignation to him three times, but he has not accepted it because, according to him, "there is no resignation under pressure and in violation of executive power."
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