Berisha appears at SPAK again, accuses prosecutors of “amnestying electoral crimes”

Former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha appeared once again at the Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) on Monday, as part of his ongoing legal obligation to check in with authorities under court-imposed restrictions. He was, as in previous instances, accompanied by a group of supporters protesting outside the institution and turned the event into an improvised electoral meeting where he spew countless accusations against prosecutors and his political rivals.

Why is this important: Berisha, a dominant figure in Albanian politics for over three decades, is facing corruption charges and has been placed under a court order requiring regular appearances at SPAK after spending a year under house arrest. He has consistently dismissed the charges as politically motivated, accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government of using the judiciary to target political opponents. He has engaged in a frontal attack against SPAK and the justice reform vowing to dismantle it if he wins in May 11.

Context: Speaking to the media, Berisha directed sharp criticism at the head of the institution, Special Prosecutor Altin Dumani. He accused the prosecution of failing to investigate electoral fraud and selectively targeting opposition figures.

“The amnesty of electoral crimes by Dumani and the [Socialist] Party’s SPAK is the most unconstitutional and anti-democratic crime in the history of political pluralism. It is the gravest attack on free elections.”

Berisha argues that while opposition members face legal scrutiny, alleged government-backed electoral misconduct remains unpunished. His remarks are part of a broader opposition narrative that Albania’s justice reform, which was initiated under EU supervision, has been manipulated to serve ruling party interests. However, despite his claims the fact of the matter is that SPAK has arrested and investigated far more Socialist representatives, including very senior figures like the Mayor of Tirana who plays a crucial role in the Socialist Party’s electoral campaign.

What else: Beyond the accusations of judicial bias, Berisha also alleged that high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Rama, are involved in politically motivated surveillance operations. He claimed that opposition figures and even members of the ruling Socialist Party deemed disloyal, such as the Mayor of Tirana, are being monitored illegally.

Additionally, he accused former Interior Minister and current Minister of State for Relations with Parliament Taulant Balla of interfering in corruption investigations allowing politically connected individuals to avoid prosecution.

What’s next: Following his appearance at SPAK, Berisha traveled to Montenegro, where he is participating in a panel discussion on EU enlargement and the integration of the Western Balkans, hosted by Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP).

His continued appearances at SPAK, combined with his escalating accusations against the judiciary and government, ensure that legal battles and political tensions will remain at the center of Albania’s political landscape in the lead-up to the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections.