Headlines
Albanian PM seeks to stop judiciary from dismissing ministers
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 16, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 16, 2026
Quick Summary
Albanian PM Edi Rama proposes legal reforms to protect ministers from suspension during investigations, raising concerns over judicial independence.
Albanian PM Aims to Shield Ministers from Judicial Dismissals
Judicial Changes Proposed by Albanian Government
TIRANA, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said his government would change the law to protect ministers from suspension while they are under criminal investigation, prompting the opposition to accuse him of trying to protect himself and harming judicial independence.
Background of the Case
A court suspended Rama's deputy, Belinda Balluku, in November following her indictment by Albania's anti-graft prosecutors, known as SPAK, over alleged meddling in a tender for infrastructure projects, which she denies.
Political Reactions and Protests
The case has sparked a dispute between SPAK, which has asked parliament to lift Balluku's immunity to allow her arrest, and Rama, who has complained about judicial overreach, especially with pre-trial detentions.
Implications for EU Membership
Albania aims to join the European Union by 2030 but the bloc says the country must do more to fight crime and corruption.
Rama's Socialist Party, which last year secured a fourth consecutive term, has a comfortable parliamentary majority and it is unclear if and when the assembly will lift the immunity of Balluku, who also served as an infrastructure minister and is a close ally of the prime minister.
"The moment a minister is dismissed not only is one person dismissed but the whole work of that institution," Rama told his party lawmakers on Monday, announcing the plan to change the law.
The opposition has staged a series of protests in recent months in the capital Tirana to demand Balluku's resignation. On Monday they said Rama was seeking to control judicial proceedings in his favour with the amendments.
"This is nothing more than an attempt by Rama to protect himself, blowing up both the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers... because behind Balluku and her wrongdoings stands Rama," the main opposition Democratic Party said in a statement to Reuters.
(Reporting by Florion Goga, writing by Fatos Bytyci; editing by Angeliki Koutantou and Gareth Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •Albanian PM Edi Rama seeks to change laws to protect ministers.
- •Opposition accuses Rama of undermining judicial independence.
- •Deputy PM Belinda Balluku suspended over alleged tender meddling.
- •Rama's party holds a parliamentary majority, affecting decisions.
- •Judicial reforms may impact Albania's EU membership aspirations.
Frequently Asked Questions about Albanian PM seeks to stop judiciary from dismissing ministers
1What is a criminal investigation?
A criminal investigation is a process where law enforcement agencies gather evidence to determine whether a crime has been committed and to identify the perpetrator.
