On December 12, 2025, Albania’s Constitutional Court issued a decision that has reignited political tensions in the country by temporarily reinstating Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, despite serious ongoing corruption allegations and a suspension issued by the Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO).
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| Belinda Balluku in his office ( |
What Happened
Earlier this autumn, the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) launched a criminal investigation into Balluku for alleged irregularities in public procurement — specifically in high-value infrastructure projects such as the Llogara tunnel tender process. In late October and November 2025, SPAK formally declared her a suspect in connection with violations of public tender laws, most notably for “violating the equality of participants in public tenders or auctions.”
As part of this process, the Special Court (GJKKO) suspended Balluku from her roles and imposed a travel ban in November 2025, citing the corruption probe.
However, the government challenged the suspension — with Prime Minister Edi Rama arguing that the special court overstepped its constitutional authority and violated the separation of powers, asserting that a minister enjoys certain parliamentary immunities that the GJKKO measure ignored.
In response, the Constitutional Court accepted the government’s appeal and paused the implementation of the lower court’s suspension orders, allowing Balluku to return to her official duties until a full public hearing on the matter is held on January 22, 2026.
Why Critics Call This a Scandal
Many observers — including political opponents, civil society actors, and some legal commentators — regard Balluku’s reinstatement as a serious scandal with multiple problematic implications:
1. Reinstatement Despite Active Corruption Probe
Balluku was suspended precisely because she is under criminal investigation for corruption-linked conduct in major public tenders worth hundreds of millions of euros. Critics argue that allowing her to resume office signals tolerance for alleged corruption at the highest levels of government, undermining anti-corruption efforts.
2. Politicization of the Judiciary
Opposition leaders and some independent voices have accused the ruling Socialist Party of pressuring institutions to protect its insiders. Some commentators have even described the Constitutional Court’s move as a dangerous precedent that could undermine judicial independence.
3. Broader Corruption Context in Albania
Balluku’s case is not isolated. Over recent years, several senior officials in the ruling Socialist Party have either been charged, arrested, or are under investigation for corruption — including former ministers and state enterprise executives. This long list has contributed to a public perception that high-level corruption is widespread and inadequately addressed.
4. Public Outrage and Political Fallout
Opposition politicians and activists have framed Balluku’s return as part of a broader pattern of impunity. For example, Democratic Party representatives have vocally criticized her alleged involvement in tender scandals and questioned the ethics of her reinstatement while investigations continue.
The Immediate Future
The Constitutional Court’s decision is temporary, pending a full public plenary hearing scheduled for January 22, 2026. At that hearing, the court will examine whether the original suspension by the GJKKO was lawful and whether the suspension measures should be permanently overturned — effectively determining if Balluku can legally remain in office while under investigation.
Meanwhile, the passport ban and travel restrictions imposed by GJKKO remain in place, indicating that, legally, Balluku is still under procedural constraints even if she holds official titles.