Bardhi calls for Balluku’s immunity to be lifted: How many undeclared villas must be uncovered before SPAK turns to parliament?

Gazment Bardhi, head of the Democratic Party’s Parliamentary Group, has reacted to the expansion of SPAK’s allegations against Belinda Balluku, reiterating his call for her parliamentary immunity to be lifted.

According to Bardhi, Balluku’s legal position has once again worsened, as three new charges have been added against her, in addition to the proceedings for violating equality in public tenders. In his reaction, he also mentions the decision to seize the villa in Palasë.

The Democratic lawmaker raises the question of why SPAK has not yet submitted to parliament a request to lift Balluku’s immunity. He also recalls a statement previously made in parliament, according to which a worsening of a suspect’s legal position should be followed by the tightening of the security measure.

Bardhi says that delays in justice are giving the former deputy prime minister more time and calls for the lifting of her immunity to pave the way for her arrest.

“How many more undeclared villas belonging to Belinda Balluku must be uncovered before SPAK submits a request to parliament to lift her immunity and pave the way for her arrest?” Bardhi asks.

He stresses that Balluku has also been formally charged with three other criminal offenses: passive corruption by high-ranking officials, concealment or non-declaration of assets, and laundering the proceeds of a criminal offense under aggravating circumstances.

These charges have been joined by the earlier proceedings for violating equality in public tenders, which concern eight tender procedures.

Bardhi recalls that he had warned for months about the existence of a second villa. According to him, SPAK has finally identified the property, while the court has ordered the seizure of the villa in Palasë. He claims that Balluku took it from Arbër Abazi of Vlora Airport and, just as with Villa No. 1, registered it once again in the name of Igli Tare.

He then refers to media reports that there may be 300 such villas in the resorts built in the country. Bardhi asks whether all of them must be uncovered before SPAK enforces the law and the standard declared and followed last December by the head of the Special Prosecution Office.

He also recalls Mr. Braho’s statement in parliament, according to which, when a suspect’s legal position worsens, the security measure against him should also be tightened.

“With today’s charges, Belinda Balluku’s legal position has worsened not once, but four times, through several of the most serious criminal offenses related to corruption and abuse of power,” Bardhi says.

In conclusion, the head of the DP parliamentary group wants to know why SPAK has not turned to parliament to request the lifting of Balluku’s immunity. He says that justice must no longer be influenced by Edi Rama’s political interests and that, in his view, every day of delay makes Balluku’s position easier and protects her corruption and that of Edi Rama.