'Mafia', 'thieves', the chaos that enveloped the elections at the Order of the Psychologist, what interests have stirred the waters

With 238 votes, Brunilda Laboviti is the new President of the Order of Psychologists, a body established by law in 2017, which includes 1,600 psychologists nationwide. These were the second elections in this order, as this process also took place in 2024, but without success.

Since the establishment of this Order until today, the President and the main character who has led the Order is Valbona Treska, a renowned psychologist who has made it possible for the Order to secure international accreditations of particular importance over the years.

But beyond the mantle of achievements, the leadership of the Order by Treska has faced numerous objections and denunciations, related to the way the Order has been led by her. The 1600 members who are part of the Order are free to take part in the training organized by the Order, so that they can then be employed by the relevant institutions, where an important part of the interest of the psychologists themselves is within the justice system.

The prices of training courses at the Order start from 35 thousand lek up to 150 thousand lek.

But this is exactly where the debate has begun. There are two camps currently operating within the Order. One is the group of founder Valbona Treska and the opposing group that accuses her of unfair practices, usurpation of the Order, appointments to jobs outside of any criteria, and lack of transparency in the money that UP collects every year from training or from institutions through projects that this Order undertakes.

But what happened on June 5? Another unpublished moment, the clash between the psychologists and the Steering Council and the Treska group is evident.

As can be heard in the video, they accuse the governing council of abuse.

"Give me an answer here in front of everyone. You are a member of the General Council, you have to protect our interests, you have to protect my personal interests. I am not here for a joke."

"You made us feel that we were dissatisfied, because our voices were never heard. You threw us out on the street, you have thrown us out on the street. Thank goodness there is a court that has given us justice."

"You are thieves, you are thieves there."

These are some of the accusations of psychologists who are outraged by the fees for training while the selection once again becomes selective and other psychologists are sent to institutions, especially to the justice system.

The voting also took place in the presence of representatives of the Ministries, who were mere spectators in a process in which they are mere observers.

"That day at the Assembly, we saw strange things. Mafia for a piece of work," said one of the psychologists who participated in the vote.

"Forensic psychologists make a name for themselves, that's where the money is, that's where the focus is. In 2017, the regulation was made that anyone who wants to work in this profile must obtain a license. The high quotas and credits over the years have apparently created dissatisfaction. At the Assembly, we learned that even many of the famous psychologists who appear on the screens, at least do not have a license," the source further stated, explaining a suspicious phenomenon within the Order. The struggle to be a psychologist near justice institutions, starting from the Police Stations to the courts and criminal processes, where psychologists have an important role in the sentencing and treatment of citizens in these processes.

Contrary to the public perception that psychologists are the ones who focus on children, in Albania the opposite is true.

"In short, a loud voice that should have been for the school psychologist, because there the focus should be on children, because children are the future, here with us, it's the opposite. Focus on justice," the source adds, laughing at the developments at UP.

Treska, who declares that until the relevant bodies of the Order speak, she will continue to be in office. "The elections were held on the 5th, there were no problems with the electoral process. Everything went well and there were no contests. The elections were held but so far they have not been certified by the relevant bodies. I do not know why Mrs. Laboviti came today. The office cannot be left without the result being certified," she said. 

Asked about the validity of the quorum, Treska said that she is not in the right position to give a definite opinion but said that the membership register is public and there are 1480 members. "The register is public. It is not up to me to say whether or not the elections had the necessary quorum, but the membership has 1480 members, now the elections were held, they were regular, the fact that people are not coming is not Treska's fault" - said the Acting President. 

The fact that sources emphasize that the fight for training fees is essentially a fight for the system of psychologists in the penal system, is also reinforced by a statement by psychologist Denada Toçe. Toçe says that the essence of the problem is 'money'. Toçe says that the membership list does not appear anywhere, while the trainings, although the Court has expressed itself in favor of psychologists, that these trainings be carried out in other places, with other payments, the Order does not implement it as a decision, causing the money to be collected in a hand that no longer even takes the trouble to make it transparent where it goes.

"The elections for the Order of Psychologists have just ended. There are 451 voters. We cannot declare a winner for either the Council members or the President. We have 451 participants who voted and do not meet the quorum. The elections are invalid."

The problem has existed since the beginning of the election process. At the beginning you have to count how many active members are participating. Basically it is based on the fact that you have to count the participating members. If there is no quorum, the process does not open.

According to the information we have received, it was said by the Secretary General, the candidate for President. The Council Member, has rightfully removed the third candidate. She declared 1500 members. There is no list of member registration.

The president is very important, because the importance with which she came is the importance of abuse. People for money and glory... It's always about money. People eat heads for money. This is the most sophisticated mafia, because it has to do with educated people. Instead of psychologist training being offered by competent institutions, the Order of Psychologists monopolized those associations and organizations, one of which is hers, which receive and conduct training in a monopolistic manner. It was won in court that other institutions should do the same, and it has not been implemented. This is making the psychologist stupid. The money goes to the Order of Psychologists and the specialists who direct the trainings", added Toçe when asked a few days ago by Ylli Rakipi on TPZ.

What will happen now? What is clear is that the clash does not end on June 5. In fact, it has just entered a new phase, where the credibility of an institution that should guarantee the ethics and mental health of society has fallen prey to petty interests.

Valbona Treska's group refuses to recognize the result, arguing that the process lacks the necessary quorum, while Brunilda Laboviti's group expects to officially take the lead, considering the vote legitimate and preparing to exercise authority as President.

But fundamentally, the problem is not just about the elections. They cannot change the accusation that psychologist training is a monopoly, or that access to the penal system is preferential and dictated by rules set by the Order's dome.

What is happening is a "power struggle" covered up but stripped of any ethical standards that psychologists themselves were supposed to embody.

If the situation continues like this, the risk is that all licenses and training of Albanian psychologists will be questioned. Could this be the new normal, as citizens seek psychological help in a system that itself needs therapy?/ Zëri