Ex-Minister Released, Balluku Faces New Charges Amid Diaspora Protest
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Former Minister of Health Ilir Beqaj has been released from prison and placed under house arrest, a significant turn in the ongoing corruption investigations. Beqaj, who was arrested in July 2024 for alleged misuse of EU funds, had been in pretrial detention for two years before the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime (GJKKO) eased his security measure to house arrest.
Further developments in the fight against corruption include the Special Prosecution Office (SPAK) filing new charges against former Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku, who is also a Member of Parliament. These charges escalate the legal scrutiny against high-profile political figures. Concurrently, a large protest organized by the Albanian diaspora took place in the capital, Tirana, demanding the unconditional resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. [cite: BalkanWeb, Reporter.al]
Amidst these political and judicial events, an opposition figure, Jorida Tabaku, criticized the government's economic policies, linking them to high prices and emigration. In a more positive domestic development, military vehicles manufactured in the country have been tested on roads, with Prime Minister Rama announcing export agreements with 30 countries. [cite: BalkanWeb, Shqiptarja.com]