Albania’s Deputy PM Faces Corruption Charges as EU Membership Hopes Hang in Balance

Albania's Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku has been indicted on corruption charges related to construction contracts worth over $200 million. The scandal has sparked violent protests and threatens Albania's goal of joining the European Union by 2030.

Violent demonstrations erupted in Albania’s capital last week as citizens threw gasoline bombs at government offices while law enforcement deployed tear gas and water cannons to control the crowds. Protesters could be heard shouting demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, calling his administration corrupt.

The unrest stems from corruption charges filed in December against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by Albania’s special anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, SPAK. Balluku faces allegations of manipulating the bidding process for two major infrastructure projects in 2021 valued at more than 200 million euros.

Balluku, considered a political rising star and potential heir to Rama’s leadership, maintains her innocence. The Prime Minister has continued supporting her despite mounting pressure.

The corruption allegations pose a significant threat to Albania’s European Union membership aspirations, with the country aiming to join the bloc by 2030. The ongoing crisis represents one of the most serious challenges for Rama, who has governed the Balkan nation since 2013 and secured his fourth consecutive term last year.

“Albania has to understand that to become an EU member, respecting the rule of law is a prerequisite,” stated Andi Hoxhaj, a Balkan expert at King’s College London. “That has to hit home, or it will not look good with the EU.”

Rama’s representative Manjola Hasa defended the government’s anti-corruption efforts when contacted by Reuters. “Albania deserves to join (the EU) for many reasons and fighting corruption with no second thoughts is one of them,” Hasa responded.

Following nearly five decades of communist isolation that ended in the early 1990s, Albania experienced widespread corruption issues common throughout post-communist Eastern Europe. The country made significant progress through judicial system overhauls in 2016, establishing SPAK in 2019, and achieving steady economic development.

EU membership negotiations commenced in 2022, and Albania reached a milestone on November 17 when it entered the final phase of accession discussions, positioning itself as a leading candidate in the EU’s Balkan expansion initiative.

Just three days following this achievement, SPAK announced the charges against Balluku.

The accusations center on two 2021 infrastructure projects – a highway tunnel construction contract and a section of Tirana’s ring road development. As infrastructure minister, Balluku allegedly manipulated the tender processes to benefit particular construction companies.

Court documents reviewed by Reuters contain text message exchanges between Balluku and associates, including the Albanian Road Authority director, who also faces charges.

One September 10, 2021 message shows Balluku apparently requesting the director arrange a meeting with a NOVA Construction 2012 representative.

Within four days of this meeting, NOVA partnered with two other firms to create a consortium that subsequently secured the ring road project.

According to SPAK, Balluku “predetermined the winner” and “created unfair advantages and privileges.”

Reuters could not confirm whether the requested meeting occurred. NOVA Construction declined to comment, as did Balluku’s legal counsel.

After an anti-corruption court suspended Balluku in November, she stated she would not address the case or respond to “half-truths and lies.”

Relations between SPAK and Prime Minister Rama have grown increasingly tense. The prosecutor’s office seeks to remove Balluku’s protection from pre-trial detention, but Rama opposes this action and accuses SPAK of exceeding its authority.

During Monday’s parliamentary session, Rama revealed he had rejected Balluku’s resignation attempts three times. “There is no such thing as a resignation under pressure from a power that has stepped outside its territory,” he declared while Balluku observed.

That same day, Rama announced plans to modify legislation protecting ministers from suspension during criminal investigations, a proposal opposition leaders claim is designed to shield him and his political allies.

European Union officials are monitoring the situation closely.

“Rhetoric that sows public mistrust in the judiciary and in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the judicial and prosecutorial systems is counterproductive,” the EU’s Tirana office stated to Reuters.

“Fighting corruption effectively is of paramount importance for Albania’s progress towards EU membership.”