EC Report on Balluku’s Immunity, Bardhi: SPAK Is Applying Double Standards, Must Seek Her Arrest

Gazment Bardhi, head of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group, reacted after the publication of the European Commission’s report on Albania, accusing the Special Prosecution Office of acting according to different standards in the case involving Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku.

Bardhi focused on the European Commission report’s findings regarding Parliament’s decision not to accept SPAK’s request to lift an MP’s immunity. According to him, the European document links this stance to the principles of checks and balances, as well as equality before the law.

“Parliament’s refusal to lift the immunity of a member of Parliament has raised concerns regarding the principles of checks and balances and equality before the law,” the EC report states. The document specifies that, in March 2026, Parliament rejected SPAK’s request to lift the immunity of an MP facing charges of violating equality in tenders.

According to the head of the Democratic parliamentary group, while the European Commission has expressed concern over the obstruction of prosecution and arrest, the only ones who have not reacted are SPAK prosecutors. Bardhi claims that this conduct is contributing to the strengthening of impunity in Balluku’s case.

He stated that SPAK has been applying two standards for several weeks in its handling of the deputy prime minister’s case. Bardhi stressed that the Special Prosecution Office itself has announced that Balluku’s criminal position has worsened due to suspicions of passive corruption and money laundering, yet it has not requested a change in the security measure.

Bardhi recalled that SPAK stated six months ago that, should the criminal position worsen, the security measure must also be tightened. According to him, this standard is not being applied in the case against Belinda Balluku.

In conclusion, the head of the DP Parliamentary Group said that SPAK has only one way to avoid becoming part of the impunity denounced by Brussels: to enforce the law, follow the standard declared by the institution itself six months ago, and immediately submit a request to Parliament to lift Belinda Balluku’s immunity and arrest her.