FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Rama is showing no signs of moderating his attacks on SPAK. He even went viral in a video, punching a table and issuing a warning not to investigate him...
Shortly before the national elections, Albania's political landscape was shaken by the arrest of Erion Veliaj, the mayor of Tirana.
Long considered a close ally and potential successor to Prime Minister Edi Rama, Veliaj has been embroiled in allegations of public contracts tied to associates and spending on luxury goods. The corruption investigation could end the political career of Veliaj, who has denied all charges.
The investigations are being led by the Special Prosecution Office, a body backed by the US and the European Union to combat endemic corruption in the Adriatic country. SPAK, as it is known, has continued the fight to dismantle corruption and organised crime that have long shaped Albania's political and economic system.
Rama, who aims to make EU membership the cornerstone of his legacy, has long defended SPAK's work. But with a close associate now in custody, his tone has changed. While he insists his Socialist Party will not interfere, he has accused prosecutors of overstepping their bounds and acting irresponsibly, calling the indictment against Veliaj a "400-page novel."
Despite his tarnished image in the West, Rama is showing no signs of moderating his attacks on SPAK. He even went viral in a video of himself punching a table and issuing a warning not to investigate him.
"This is very serious! Very serious! Very serious!" he told lawmakers at a party meeting, continuing: " They shouldn't make the mistake of coming to ask for my phone. They've already collected all the phones in Albania there ."
Rama’s Socialists have fully aligned themselves with Veliaj, calling the case an attempt to weaken the government ahead of the May 11 elections. Party officials have echoed Rama’s criticism of SPAK, arguing that the investigations disproportionately target ruling party figures while ignoring others. Opposition parties have seized on the scandal, saying it exposes corruption within the Socialist ranks.
Meanwhile, the EU has reaffirmed its support for SPAK as an anchor on Albania’s path to the 27-member bloc. “Judicial reform and the establishment of SPAK are a cornerstone of Albania’s EU membership,” the EU delegation to Albania said this week.
SPAK chief Altin Dumani dismissed claims of political motivation, saying those acting in accordance with the law “have nothing to fear.” Instead, he signaled that the investigation could be expanded, noting that SPAK has jurisdiction over election crimes.
This could prompt further escalation – and more trouble for Albania in its bid to join the EU. / Adapted from “ Bloomberg ”
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