Albania Parliament Chaos as Opposition Clashes Over Corruption Probe

Albanian opposition lawmakers scuffled with police inside parliament on Thursday as tensions over a corruption probe into Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku escalated. The session occurred as SPAK, Albania s Special Anti Corruption and Organized Crime Structure, asked lawmakers to lift Balluku s immunity so she can be arrested on charges related to alleged favors to companies in major infrastructure projects. Prosecutors have charged Balluku in connection with a 3.7 mile tunnel project in southern Albania and additional alleged irregularities in a Tirana road construction project, with the actions cited as part of a broader pattern of corruption linked to infrastructure deals. Parliament is expected to vote on the immunity request on Friday.

During the session, members of the opposition Democratic Party lit black flares, threw water at the speaker, and occupied seats reserved for government ministers in an attempt to disrupt the proceedings as the country prepared to swear in a new ombudsperson. Police intervened, pushing lawmakers away from the podium and allowing the session to continue.

Balluku, who also serves as infrastructure and energy minister, is seen as a close ally of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Rama and his Socialist party won a fourth term earlier this year. The case has drawn criticism from Rama s opponents and international scrutiny. In a broader context, the U.S. State Department has declined to comment on ongoing legal matters in Albania.

The investigation into Balluku comes as SPAK has pressed for the removal of her immunity to allow for arrest and eventual court proceedings. The charges center on allegations that Balluku steered preference to a company in the tunnel tender and related irregularities in a Tirana road project. Prosecutors have argued that these actions favored specific firms in exchange for advantages tied to major infrastructure schemes in the capital region. Balluku has denied the allegations, saying the accusations amount to mudslinging and misrepresentation.

The affair has intensified a long running confrontation between the government led by Prime Minister Edi Rama and the opposition. Rama s Socialist party, which secured a fourth consecutive term earlier this year, has faced persistent accusations of shielding officials from accountability as Albania seeks closer integration with the European Union and continued support from Western partners, including the United States. A former Albanian ambassador to the United States and the United Nations has publicly criticized the government s handling of the case, suggesting that state institutions may be drifting toward shielding officials rather than delivering impartial justice.

The episode unfolds as Albania continues to grapple with its EU accession prospects and its obligations to strengthen judicial reform and anti corruption measures backed by international partners. The parliamentary chaos coincides with demonstrations in Tirana, including shows of support for opposition figures and protests against perceived government interference in the justice process.

The country remains a NATO member and a focal point of Western policy in the Balkans, with ongoing reforms and scrutiny shaping its path toward deeper integration with European institutions. Analysts say the outcome of the immunity vote and any subsequent legal steps will be watched closely by regional partners and international allies who have pressed for accountability and transparency inside Albania s political system.

As the ombudsperson prepares to take the oath, the immediate political question centers on whether Parliament will grant the immunity lift requested by SPAK and how Rama s government will respond to growing domestic pressure and international expectations for robust anti corruption action. The next steps in the legal and political process are expected to unfold in the days ahead, with parliamentary leadership signaling that a vote could occur on Friday.

The Albanian episode illustrates the fragility of political consensus in a country navigating complex reform demands, security commitments within NATO, and the challenge of maintaining public trust amid allegations of influence over major infrastructure contracts. World affairs observers note that the implications extend beyond domestic politics, potentially shaping regional stability and Albania s trajectory on its EU membership timeline.