The Chairman of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, Gazment Bardhi, has accused SPAK of applying double standards in the case against Belinda Balluku.
In a public reaction, he raises questions about the fact that, according to him, after the completion of the investigations, the discovery of the two villas and the addition of charges of corruption, money laundering and concealment of assets, a new request for Parliament's authorization for her arrest has not been submitted.
Bardhi claims that the Special Prosecution Office is acting under the political influence of Prime Minister Edi Rama and Balluku himself.
He recalls that in the previous phase of the investigation, when Balluku was accused of violating equality in tenders, SPAK had requested authorization for her arrest, arguing the risk of destroying evidence and influencing witnesses.
According to the head of the DP parliamentary group, the addition of charges should be accompanied by an explanation from SPAK as to why a new authorization from the Assembly was not requested.
Bardhi requests that the Special Prosecution Office clarify whether its assessment of the need for an arrest measure has changed and why, according to him, Balluku is being treated differently from other persons investigated for corruption or money laundering.
In his reaction, Bardhi also links this issue to the European integration process, arguing that selective justice and the impunity of high-ranking officials contradict the principle that no one should be above the law.
Gazment Bardhi's full reaction:
"WITH the closure of the investigations into Belinda Balluku, WITH 2 villas discovered, hidden by her, WITH 5 new charges for corruption, money laundering and concealment of assets and WITHOUT a request to lift immunity for her arrest, SPAK was proven to be officially under the control of Edi Rama and Belinda Balluku.
By positioning itself against the law and in favor of the political interests of the most corrupt duo in the country, SPAK must explain to Albanians today why the law is being applied differently to Belinda Balluku. Why is Belinda Balluku more equal than others in Edi Rama's SPAK Albania? When she was accused of violating equality in tenders, SPAK demanded her arrest, arguing the risk of evidence tampering and influencing witnesses.
Today, when four more charges are being levied against him, including corruption, SPAK remains silent.
Why?
What has changed? Why was the authorization of the Assembly not requested again? Why should Belinda Balluku be treated differently from other defendants for corruption or money laundering, against whom arrest measures have been requested and implemented? SPAK is obliged to tell Albanians why it applied a different standard to Belinda Balluku than the others. What is the pact it has made with Edi Rama? How many ministers does SPAK want to appoint to Edi Rama's government to share the corrupt power together?
Albania cannot build its European future on selective justice and the impunity of power. European integration is not just the closing of negotiation chapters. It is the guarantee that no one is above the law. Today, this guarantee has been undermined by Edi Rama, Belinda Balluku and their associates in SPAK.”