Chaos in Albanian Parliament as Corruption Allegations Fuel Political Crisis
In a dramatic display of political unrest, Albania’s parliament erupted into chaos Thursday as opposition lawmakers clashed with police over corruption allegations against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku. The scene unfolded amid weeks of escalating tensions, with Democratic Party representatives lighting black flares, throwing water at the speaker, and attempting to occupy seats reserved for government ministers. Their goal was clear: disrupt proceedings as the country’s new ombudsperson prepared to take oath. Police ultimately intervened, physically removing lawmakers from the podium to allow the confirmation to proceed, but the incident underscores the deepening political crisis gripping this Balkan nation.
The parliamentary disorder comes at a critical moment as Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Structure (SPAK) has formally requested that lawmakers lift Balluku’s immunity from prosecution. This would allow her arrest on serious corruption charges, with parliament expected to vote on the measure Friday. Opposition members have demanded to see the formal allegations submitted to parliament, highlighting the contentious nature of the proceedings. According to prosecutors, Balluku, who also serves as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, allegedly participated in corrupt practices designed to favor specific companies involved in major infrastructure projects, including a tunnel and the capital’s ring road—projects valued at hundreds of millions of euros. As Prime Minister Edi Rama’s closest ally, the charges against Balluku represent a significant blow to his administration.
The allegations against Balluku are specific and substantial. On October 31, SPAK issued a criminal indictment claiming she improperly favored a company in a tender for a 3.7-mile tunnel project in southern Albania. Prosecutors later added another charge on November 21 related to alleged violations in a Tirana road construction project—the same day a court initially removed her from office. Despite these serious accusations, Balluku has remained defiant, categorically denying wrongdoing. In an impassioned address to parliament before a November court appearance, she dismissed the allegations as “mudslinging, insinuations, half-truths and lies.” Her defense has done little to quell the opposition’s demands for accountability, with the Democratic Party making her case a central focus of their anti-corruption campaign.
The handling of Balluku’s case has drawn critical attention from both domestic opponents and international observers. Former Albanian ambassador to the U.S. and United Nations, Agim Nesho, characterized the situation as “state capture” in a recent interview, suggesting that Rama’s government appears more interested in protecting Balluku than allowing the justice system to function independently. This perception is particularly troubling for a nation actively seeking European Union membership and positioning itself as a reformed democracy. Despite the high-profile nature of the case and its implications for U.S.-Albanian relations, the U.S. State Department has declined to comment on the matter, stating it has “no comment on ongoing legal matters.” This diplomatic silence comes despite America’s substantial investment in Albanian judicial reforms aimed at fighting corruption.
The political drama unfolds against a broader backdrop of Albania’s democratic journey and international aspirations. As a NATO member and key U.S. ally in the strategically important Balkan region, Albania has received significant American support for judicial reforms intended to strengthen rule of law and combat corruption—prerequisites for EU accession. Prime Minister Rama, whose Socialist Party secured an unprecedented fourth consecutive term earlier this year, now faces perhaps the most serious challenge to his leadership. The spectacle of opposition lawmakers being physically removed from parliament by police officers risks undermining Albania’s image as a maturing democracy, while the corruption allegations against such a senior figure raise questions about the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts despite years of internationally-backed reforms.
What happens next will be closely watched both within Albania and by the international community. Friday’s parliamentary vote on lifting Balluku’s immunity represents a pivotal moment that will signal whether the country’s institutions can handle high-level corruption allegations impartially or if political loyalties will prevail over judicial independence. For ordinary Albanians, the case speaks to deeper frustrations about governance and accountability in a nation where corruption has historically hindered economic development and public trust in institutions. Whether this crisis becomes a turning point for genuine anti-corruption progress or devolves into further political polarization may well determine Albania’s democratic trajectory and its prospects for eventual European integration. The coming days will test not just Rama’s leadership and Balluku’s future, but the resilience of Albania’s young democratic institutions themselves.
