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Austrian media Der Standard: Rama is sabotaging the judicial system in Albania! He is attacking SPAK because the deputy prime minister is under investigation

2026-02-24 14:45:32Politikë SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Austrian media Der Standard: Rama is sabotaging the judicial system in Albania!
Belinda Balluku

The prestigious Austrian newspaper Der Standard has devoted a detailed analysis of the latest political developments in Albania, focusing on the clash between Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime, SPAK. In an article signed by journalist Adelheid Wölfl, the influential Austrian media in the German-speaking area describes the debate on the lifting of the immunity of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku as a critical moment for the separation of powers and for the future of justice reform in the country.

The focus is on the attempt to amend the Criminal Procedure Code, as an initiative that raises questions about the balance between the executive and the judiciary and the equality of citizens before the law.

The following is an article that brings the echo of the clash with the majority and the judiciary into a broader European context, underlining that developments in Tirana are being closely followed in Brussels.

She simply did not show up. Earlier this week, the Albanian parliament held a debate on the anti-corruption prosecutor's request to lift the immunity of Albanian Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, a member of parliament from the Socialist Party. However, she reacted with disdain. The politician is suspected of interfering in a public tender process for seven major road construction projects, favoring a particular bidder.

The Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) has been investigating Balluk for months, while Prime Minister Edi Rama, in an authoritarian manner, is using the case to wage a personal battle against the judiciary. In doing so, he is effectively undermining the country’s separation of powers. When SPAK requested Balluk’s suspension last November, Rama filed an appeal with the Constitutional Court. He called the decision a “unique and dangerous precedent” and called the suspension “absurd in itself.” However, the Constitutional Court ruled in favor of the suspension in early February.

Rama was furious. In the past, if something didn’t go his way, he would slam his fist on the table like an angry boss. Now he’s going even further. Last week, his Socialist Party proposed amending Article 242 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Under the proposed amendment, key officials, including the president, the Ombudsman, the prime minister, deputy prime ministers, ministers, members of the Constitutional Court and the heads of the Supreme State Audit Office, would no longer be subject to suspension if they are suspected of corruption.

Disproportionate?

The proposed amendment would constitute a serious and disproportionate infringement of the independence and efficiency of the judiciary and a step backwards in the fight against corruption and clientelism. The amendment to the law would undermine the equality of all citizens before the law, as it would give preferential treatment to public officials.

Furthermore, suspension in corruption investigations aims to guarantee the integrity of criminal investigations and minimize the risk of evidence or witness tampering. Eliminating the possibility of suspension of executive officials would also undermine the balance of powers between the executive and the judiciary.

Austrian media Der Standard: Rama is sabotaging the judicial system in Albania!
Standard Door

Ermal Hasimja of the Forum for Political Dialogue believes that the proposed changes serve Rama to prevent a possible suspension of his presidency in the future and to reinforce his theory that the judiciary interferes with the executive branch. As part of the justice reforms, the Special Court and the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption (SPAK) were established in Albania in recent years. They conduct effective investigations, giving many Albanians hope that justice and equality before the law can have a chance in the country. SPAK was supported and defended by the US and its EU partners.

However, SPAK and the Special Court have already become a threat to Rama’s power. In addition to Balluku, the mayor of Tirana, several other ministers and important officials have been indicted or convicted. “The Balluku case has pushed Rama to abandon his previous somewhat reserved stance,” the political scientist told STANDARD.

Campaign against the judiciary

Rigels Xhemollari from the NGO “Civic Stability” criticizes the draft law as a clear step backwards for Albania’s democratic development and the rule of law. “Anyone who can be proven to have misused public funds should be prosecuted. No one should be above the law or enjoy a privileged status compared to the citizens of the Republic of Albania,” Xhemollari told STANDARD.

Moreover, the draft law was discussed exclusively between the Prime Minister and his ministers and was not subject to any expert review or public debate. “The process was unclear and lacked any institutional consultation,” he criticizes.

Rama has launched an aggressive campaign against the judiciary, through public and media attacks, with the aim of weakening SPAK. At the same time, however, opinion polls show that SPAK is considered the most trusted institution by the Albanian population. “This puts the Albanian political class in an extremely difficult position,” explains Xhemollari.

The NGO positively assesses the strong warning of the European Parliament about the consequences that Albania would face if the Socialist Party were to attack the independence of the judiciary. The European Commission has not yet taken such a clear position; it is trying to present Albania as a vanguard in the accession process and a successful model. However, Rama's recent decision to allow Albania to join US President Donald Trump's so-called "Peace Council" has raised eyebrows within the EU./ DerStandard (Adelheid Wölfl from Sarajevo, February 24, 2026)


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