Ida Ismail
Civil society organizations have urged the Albanian Parliament not to delay the consideration of SPAK's request for parliamentary authorization against MP Belinda Balluku, warning of the risk of politicizing constitutional procedures and undermining public trust in justice.
According to the organizations, parliamentary immunity is not a personal shield to evade justice, but a functional guarantee for the exercise of the representative mandate. Any deviation from the deadlines and procedures provided for in the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the request emphasizes, violates the principle of equality before the law and weakens the rule of law.
The executive director of the organization "Civic Stability", Rigels Xhemollari, assesses that the contradictory statements between the European Commission and Prime Minister Edi Rama create a worrying situation that represents steps backward in the fight against corruption and in the country's European journey.
"No one should be above the law or hide behind immunity!", he emphasizes.
In their request, the organizations recall that the Assembly has a constitutional obligation to exercise its powers without obstructing or delaying the activities of the judicial bodies, in accordance with the principle of separation and balance of powers. They also underline that the timely, transparent and non-politicized handling of SPAK's requests is in line with European Union standards, particularly in the framework of chapters 23 and 24 of the integration process.
Specifically, civil society demands:
- The immediate convening of the Mandates Council, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly
- Review of SPAK's request within constitutional deadlines, without delays or political interference
- Full respect for the principle that no one is above the law, through transparent and impartial parliamentary procedures
According to the organizations, respecting the Constitution in this case is not a political choice, but an institutional obligation. The correct handling of SPAK's request is seen as concrete proof of the functioning of the rule of law and the seriousness of Albanian institutions in strengthening democratic standards and in the process of European integration./acqj.al
