The Special Prosecution Office registers the name of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku as a person under investigation for the charge of violating equality in tenders. The number two of the “Rama 4” government, according to sources, has been summoned to appear before SPAK on Monday based on a letter signed by Special Prosecutor Dritan Priençi. Trusted sources indicate that the summons was delivered to Ms. Balluku at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy.
In the summons, Balluku is informed that at the moment of appearing at the Special Prosecution Office she must be accompanied by a lawyer, which in such cases indicates that she may be charged with a criminal offense. This means that SPAK will likely prosecute the number two of the majority without security measures, and in this way the special prosecutors also avoid the request for authorization from the Albanian Parliament.
SPAK is extremely reserved about providing details regarding the case that Deputy Prime Minister Balluku is investigating, as there are a number of criminal charges against her, including that of the Llogara tunnel where the value of the tender that was won by a Turkish company was increased by over 50 million euros.
It is not known whether Ms. Balluku will respond to SPAK's subpoena and in this new position before the courts, will she continue to hold government positions or will she choose to resign and wage her battle without the shield of the Socialist Party.
Belinda Balluku has been serving as Deputy Prime Minister since July 2022.
As for the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, since January 2019. Balluku was the political leader of the Fier district where she won 12 mandates in the May 11 elections.
