Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has sharply criticized the decision of the Special Court to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, calling the move an “arbitrary violation of the executive’s competencies.”
Speaking at a press conference following the regional summit, Rama insisted that his government will respect the decision of the Special Court (GJKKO), but will seek constitutional remedies to defend institutional balance, Euronews Albania reports.
“It has never happened that a prosecutor and a judge suspend a member of the government. If a special prosecutor and a first-instance special judge have decided to suspend a minister, then the functioning of another independent branch of power has been violated by taking over the competencies of the prime minister, the president, and the parliament,” Rama said.
He emphasized that his government will not retaliate politically or rhetorically against the judiciary.
“We cannot respond to this arbitrary measure with any form of arbitrariness from our side. We will not engage in any political confrontation with the justice system. We will respect the minister’s suspension, and we will seek protection for the government’s compromised independence only through justice, in the Constitutional Court. That is who we are, that is who I am, and this is how it will continue until the end — for the privilege of governing Albania and bringing it into the EU,” Rama declared.
Rama further stated that Albania’s progress in opening all negotiation chapters with the EU is largely due to its fight against corruption and organized crime.
According to him, the country has entered “a new era” under the current government, one marked by an independent justice system and positive institutional developments.
