Constitutional Court Decision: Belinda Balluku Is No Longer Deputy Prime Minister or Minister of Infrastructure

Following the dismissal of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s lawsuit and the upholding of the Special Court’s ruling, Belinda Balluku is no longer serving as either Deputy Prime Minister or Minister of Infrastructure.

After the implementation of the Special Court’s decision to suspend Balluku from her duties was delayed for more than one month, the Constitutional Court issued its ruling today.

Earlier, at the request of SPAK, the Special Court ordered the suspension of the minister, as investigations are under way into alleged interference in at least seven tenders related to Tirana’s Great Ring Road and the Llogara Tunnel.

After Edi Rama decided not to suspend Belinda Balluku and instead referred the case to the Constitutional Court, SPAK requested that the Albanian Parliament lift the immunity of MP Belinda Balluku, who at the time was serving as Minister of Infrastructure and Deputy Prime Minister.

However, this move was also blocked by Edi Rama, who did not convene the Mandates Council and postponed a decision on the request, citing the need to await a ruling from the Constitutional Court, which was delivered this evening.

So far, what is Belinda Balluku accused of?

The investigation concerns the Llogara Tunnel tender, valued at €190 million.

In its request to Parliament, SPAK informed lawmakers that it is seeking authorization to arrest the government’s second-highest official, on suspicion that she manipulated at least seven tender procedures. These suspicions add to the existing charge against Belinda Balluku related to the €180 million Llogara Tunnel tender.

The alleged abuses attributed to Belinda Balluku include:

Llogara Tunnel – €190 million
Continuation of works at Sheshi Shqiponja–Tirana River, Lot 1 and QMT
Limit fund: 2,375,552,033 new lekë
Road segment Sheshi Shqiponja–New Boulevard, Lot 2
Limit fund: 2,485,599,781 new lekë
Road segment Sheshi Shqiponja–New Boulevard–Shkozë, bridges over the Tirana River
Limit fund: 2,559,318,901 new lekë
Construction of Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 4
Limit fund: 2,096,958,794 new lekë
Construction of Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 5
Limit fund: 1,939,309,894 new lekë
Construction of Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 6
Limit fund: 1,816,355,589 new lekë
Construction of Tirana Outer Ring Road, Lot 7
Limit fund: 2,353,597,373 new lekë