Albanian PM fires deputy over tender scandal

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has dismissed his deputy, Belinda Balluku, following accusations of manipulating state tenders.

The decision was made on the evening of February 26,  three months after the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) charged Balluku with interfering in road construction tenders. The official denies the allegations, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Speaking to the Socialist parliamentary group, Rama accused SPAK and the courts of abusing their authority and interfering in government operations.

Meanwhile, SPAK has submitted a request to parliament to lift Balluku’s immunity in preparation for a possible arrest.

Earlier, the Constitutional Court suspended Balluku from her position, and the Socialist Party proposed legislative changes to limit the court’s authority to remove high-ranking officials, including the prime minister, ministers, and members of the Constitutional Court.

Parliament is scheduled to vote on lifting Balluku’s immunity on March 6.

By Jeyhun Aghazada