Not every tender violation should lead to prison / Këlliçi accuses Rama of protecting Balluku after the abuse of 1.2 billion euros

While presenting the proposed amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure, Prime Minister Edi Rama said that violations of procurement procedures should not automatically be punished with imprisonment.

According to him, criminal liability should be determined based on the nature of the violation and the concrete consequences it has caused.

The government leader’s position was challenged by Belind Këlliçi, deputy chairman of the Democratic Party. Këlliçi interpreted the statement as an attempt to protect officials involved in tender abuses, saying that Rama is placing his own interests and those of his associates above the country’s needs.

Këlliçi cited the case of Belinda Balluku as an example, saying that, according to SPAK, the violation of equality in tenders is linked to the abuse of 1.2 billion euros from the Albanian taxpayers’ budget.

According to him, Edi Rama’s position treats this as a minor offense that should not result in a prison sentence.

“Edi Rama is once again demonstrating that his priority is protecting himself and his associates. Instead of weakening the fight against abuse of office and violations of equality in tenders, Albania should strengthen it,” the Democratic Party deputy chairman said.

He accused the prime minister of publicly supporting people close to him who had been caught engaging in abuses, vouching for their reputation and financial standing, and securing 82 votes in Parliament against the justice system and in support of his deputy.

According to Këlliçi, the proposal to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure aims to ensure that people accused of abuse of office or violations of equality in tenders do not end up in prison, while continuing to perform their duties and conduct procedures in the same manner during the investigation.