Albanian PM fires deputy as corruption investigation heats up

TIRANA, Feb 26 - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama late on Thursday dismissed his deputy, Belinda Balluku, who faces accusations of manipulating public tenders, allegations that have sparked opposition protests. Read more at straitstimes.com.

TIRANA, Feb 26 - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama late on Thursday dismissed his deputy, Belinda Balluku, who faces accusations of manipulating public tenders, allegations that have sparked opposition protests.

A special prosecution office targeting corruption and organised crime, known as SPAK, indicted Balluku in December on suspicion of interfering in the awarding of two construction contracts in 2021 worth more than 200 million euros.

Parliament is expected to decide on March 5 whether to eliminate her immunity, which would allow SPAK to arrest her. Albania, which wants to join the European Union by 2030, faces pressure from the bloc to tackle corruption.

Balluku, who held the positions of deputy prime minister and infrastructure minister, denies wrongdoing.

Rama, who has been in power since 2013, stood by her for months and did not give a reason for dismissing her on Thursday in a reshuffle of seven roles in his Socialist Party administration including the defense and foreign ministers.

"The Prime Minister has clarified since the beginning of this term that reshuffles might be more frequent, while the last nearly four months he has refused three times the resignation of Mrs. Balluku," government spokesperson, Manjola Hasa, told Reuters in an emailed statement