Berisha Pins Hopes on New US Ambassador, but Hardens Stance Against SPAK and Territorial Reform

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said he expects the new United States ambassador to Albania to bring about new developments in the country.

Following Eric Wendt’s appointment, the Democratic leader said the justice system could receive stronger support and that the fight against corruption and organized crime is expected to be among the top priorities.

Berisha said that, in line with the directives of the US government and President Trump, law enforcement should be given particular importance. He added that he hopes and believes the new ambassador’s arrival in Tirana will have an impact in this regard.

However, the DP leader continued his criticism of the Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption, an institution supported by the United States.

According to Berisha, SPAK had shown Albanians that it had become the “guardian of constitutional electoral crime.” He said he makes no secret of his battle against the institution and accused prosecutors of sending him messages intended to silence him, but without succeeding in stopping him.

Berisha also described SPAK as a tool serving the “party-state.”

The Democratic leader also opposed the Socialists’ proposal for territorial reform, which he described as a division designed to serve electoral interests.

He said that instead of correcting the 2014 territorial division, it had been made even worse by reducing the number of municipalities to 46. According to Berisha, Edi Rama, through a form of centralization that he compared to the model of a sultan, aims to keep all power under his control.

Sali Berisha welcomed citizens’ reaction against the merging of municipalities and called on Democrats to join the protests.