Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama reacted via a social media post following the latest decision of the Constitutional Court regarding the reinstatement of the suspension of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku. Rama stressed that constitutional functions are non-delegable and cannot be suspended by anyone other than through legal mechanisms, as any such suspension paralyzes the institution led by the individual concerned.

Rama underlined that the Socialist parliamentary group will engage in addressing the issue through legislative amendments, ensuring that justice institutions function without obstruction and that any unwarranted suspension does not jeopardize their operation.

He also emphasized that there is no urgency to address the request submitted by SPAK, assuring that investigations can continue normally without hindering the work of justice institutions.

“The only party benefiting from the reinstatement of the suspension is SPAK, which can calmly continue the relevant investigation, while until a legal solution is addressed, there is no urgency to deal with the request SPAK submitted after the suspension measure was lifted. The Socialist parliamentary group will engage in resolving the issue through legislative intervention,” Rama wrote.

Rama convened the Socialist parliamentary group at the Presidency of the Assembly ahead of the meeting of the Mandates Committee, which will review SPAK’s request to lift the MP’s immunity for the purpose of her arrest. Following this meeting, Rama is set to travel to Brussels, where at around 14:00 he will meet with the President of the European Council, António Costa.

Rama’s Full Statement

“Three conclusions from the meeting of the Parliamentary Group following the lack of a final decision by the Constitutional Court and the reinstatement of the minister’s suspension:

1. Non-delegable constitutional functions, from that of a government member to that of the President of the Republic and beyond, cannot under any circumstances be suspended by anyone on the basis of an individual name, because suspension paralyzes the function and therefore the institution led by that person.
2. Based also on the reading of the Constitutional Court’s public statement, where all members of the panel appear unanimous regarding the problem but divided on the solution, the Socialist parliamentary group will engage in resolving the issue through legislative intervention.
3. The only party fulfilled by the reinstatement of the suspension is SPAK, which, under the conditions of suspension, can calmly continue the relevant investigation, while until a legal solution is addressed, there is no urgency to handle the request SPAK made after the suspension measure was lifted.

An additional point from my side: SPAK is not affected—only supported. The freedom and right of every prosecutor to investigate anything and anyone are not affected—only guaranteed. The constitutional independence of the legislative and executive branches is also not affected—only guaranteed,” Rama wrote.