People In Albania Are Holding Huge Protests After The Deputy Prime Minister Was Accused Of Corruption
Albania’s deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku, was accused for favoring certain companies in infrastructure projects.
Thousands of people in Albania are demanding prime minister Edi Rama’s government resign after his deputy prime minister was accused of corruption.
On Oct. 31, Albania’s deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku, who is also the minister of infrastructure, was formally accused of corruption charges for allegedly favoring certain companies and giving them an unfair advantage on infrastructure projects worth more than about US$224 million.
Balluku called the accusations “mudslinging, insinuations, half-truths and lies”, and promised to cooperate with authorities.
On Nov. 20, a court removed Balluku from her role as deputy prime minister.
The Special Prosecution Office (SPAK), who is in charge of combating corruption and organized crime, requested the parliament on Dec. 16 to lift Balluku’s political immunity and allow her to be arrested.
However, Rama said his government will delay acting on SPAK’s request, saying that there is a pending Constitutional Court ruling on Jan. 22, 2026 on measures to suspend Balluku.
The controversy ignited protests in parliament on Dec. 18, with opposition lawmakers disrupting the session, lighting flares, throwing water at the speaker and occupying seats reserved for government ministers, before police intervened, according to Reuters.
On Monday, Dec. 22, the opposition Democratic Party held an anti-government rally in the country’s capital Tirana.
Protesters gathered outside Rama’s office and threw Molotov cocktails towards the residence.
"We have had enough because it's a matter of tens and hundreds of millions of euros stolen, and she isn't resigning. This is disgraceful," a protester told Reuters.
Police arrested at least four people and are investigating at least seven more people, according to Politico.
Two police officers were injured, and one protester accidentally set himself on fire.
In response to the protests, Rama told Politico that he did not want to question his political opponents “because in the end they are not enemies to be exposed to the world, but just desperate fellow Albanians, to be confronted and dealt with within the bounds of our own domestic political life.”
Rama’s Socialist Party currently holds a majority in parliament, but it is uncertain when the parliament will vote on Balluku’s immunity.
More On Albania
Sofia Hou
Flavie Chen
