The rise and fall of Ilir Meta, the turbulent political life!

In a scenario that shocked Albanian politics, former president Ilir Meta was arrested by special police forces at the entrance to Tirana .

A video that went viral on social networks showed the dramatic moments of his arrest, as a civilian car cut his way and Meta was forcibly removed from the vehicle, to be sent to another car.

This event caused a wave of political reactions, especially from the opposition, which accused the Special Prosecutor's Office (SPAK) of politically motivated action.

According to SPAK's announcement, Meta is accused of corruption and money laundering in three main cases.

The first case is related to the case known as CEZ-DIA , while in the second case it is accused of interfering in favor of a communication company to conclude an interconnection contract.

The third case involves corrupt relations with a businessman identified as "SM", from whom Meta illegally benefited from a villa.

These accusations have further shocked a political scene that for years has been mired in conflicts and serious accusations of corruption.

A career filled with unexpected political changes

Ilir Meta has been one of the most important figures of Albanian politics for more than three decades.

He has changed political allies several times, switching from one political wing to another at key moments in the country's history.

His career began with the appointment as deputy prime minister in 1998 and later prime minister in 1999, when he represented the Socialist Party (SP).

His mandate as prime minister was accompanied by great political tensions and violent protests by the then opposition led by Sali Berisha, culminating in the arrest of the latter by the police.

After the contested elections of 2001, where Meta was accused of electoral manipulation, a fierce clash broke out within the SP with the then president Fatos Nano.

This clash led to the departure of Meta from the SP and the creation of a new party, the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) in 2004.

Meta stood in opposition with the SP in the 2005 elections, but his ties to the Socialists remained close, leading him to collaborate with them again in the 2007 local elections.

Unstable alliances and corruption scandals

In 2009, Meta made an unexpected move, entering into an alliance with the Democratic Party (PD) led by Sali Berisha.

Through this alliance, Meta secured a part of the government, while the country was once again involved in political chaos.

A key moment in this period was the publication of a video at the end of 2010, where Meta was seen discussing corruption with his former colleague Dritan Prifti.

The video caused widespread public outrage, leading to protests on 21 January 2011, in which four protesters lost their lives.

However, the fierce political conflict between Meta and Edi Rama did not last long. Before the parliamentary elections of 2013, Meta and Rama made a new alliance, which was victorious.

Meta gained great influence in governance, controlling about 40% of power.

However, his time as a partner in the government was not smooth, as it was accompanied by a series of corruption allegations, including the CEZ-DIA case and the corrupt contracts he allegedly entered into for personal gain.

The arrest and serious charges against Meta and Kryemadhi

After the end of his term as president in 2022, Meta again took over the leadership of his party, now renamed the Freedom Party.

However, his further political steps were interrupted by accusations brought by SPAK for corruption and money laundering.

The charges include questionable lobbying contracts in the United States, laundering funds for the purchase of a house in Tirana, and failing to declare medical services for long periods of time.

Meta's wife, Monika Kryemadhi, who is going through a divorce process with him, is also under investigation for corruption.

She is accused of involvement in illegal agreements with businessman Samir Mane and for the influence she exerted in changing a law for economic benefits.

The Special Prosecutor's Office stated that the investigations against the Meta-Kryemadhi couple have continued for years and have included cooperation with the authorities of several foreign countries, in order to secure the necessary evidence.

An ambiguous political legacy

Ilir Meta's political career is a complicated account of the Albanian transition, filled with unexpected reversals, uncertain alliances, and accusations of corruption.

Despite the serious accusations that have weighed on him, he has remained a central figure in Albanian politics.

His arrest has raised major questions about his political future, while the country remains divided between his supporters and critics.

While the judicial process against Meta is expected to take place, it remains to be seen whether this event will mark the end of his political career, or whether he will manage to survive this crisis, as he has done in the past.

In any case, recent events have further deepened the divisions in the Albanian political scene, making the future of political stability in the country unclear./ Kafe.al