Constitutional Court continues to aid Rama, delays ruling on Balluku to let deadlines lapse

The Constitutional Court has once again moved to assist Prime Minister Edi Rama by delaying a decision on his appeal challenging a request by the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) to suspend Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku from office. Balluku is under investigation for alleged abuse and manipulation of public procurement processes involving contracts worth hundreds of millions of euros, including the Llogara tunnel project and sections of Tirana’s Grand Ring Road.

Failing to reach a decision on Rama’s appeal related to Balluku’s case, the Constitutional Court postponed its review for a second time, reinforcing the scenario alleged by the opposition: that repeated delays are intended to run out the three-month deadline for Parliament to review the minister’s mandate following SPAK’s request to impose a security measure of house arrest.

It should be recalled that SPAK has submitted a request to the Constitutional Court to suspend Balluku from office, while in Parliament the Special Prosecution has sought the lifting of her immunity and her arrest. This process is being stalled by the Socialist Party’s parliamentary group, which has not reviewed the request within the legal timeframe. As a result, if three months pass without a decision, the deadlines for SPAK’s request to arrest the deputy prime minister under criminal investigation will expire.

The closed-door deliberation held on Tuesday did not yield a final ruling, leaving the case open for another session.

Under the law, the Constitutional Court has 30 days to issue a final decision, a deadline that expires on February 22.