Opposition MPs clash with Head of SPAK over Berisha’s arrest
Opposition Members of Parliament strongly criticized the head of Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK), Altin Dumani, during a parliamentary session. The MPs questioned Dumani about the arrest of their leader, former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who has been under house arrest since December 30, 2023, on charges of corruption related to the privatization of the “Partizani” sports complex.
What was said
The opposition MPs accused Dumani of political bias and claimed that Berisha’s arrest was orchestrated by the ruling Socialist Party under Prime Minister Edi Rama. They demanded explanations from Dumani about the evidence against Berisha and why he has not commented on the alleged political interference in SPAK’s operations.
This session was particularly significant as it marked the annual reporting of key judicial figures to the Albanian Parliament. Dumani, along with other judicial leaders, reported on their work and the challenges they faced in 2023. The session highlighted the ongoing tensions between SPAK and opposition lawmakers, especially concerning high-profile corruption investigations.
In response to the accusations, Dumani firmly denied any political influence over his work. He emphasized that his actions are based strictly on legal procedures and evidence. Dumani clarified that the case against Berisha remains under investigation, and he refrained from making detailed comments on ongoing inquiries, including other sensitive cases like the Tirana incinerator investigation.
Dumani also addressed allegations that his office received directives from Prime Minister Rama via text messages to close certain cases, including the controversial Xibraka case. Dumani rejected these claims, asserting that his relationship with the Prime Minister is strictly institutional and procedural.
Context
The clash underscores the deep political divisions in Albania, with Berisha’s supporters viewing the corruption charges as politically motivated attacks designed to weaken the opposition. Meanwhile, SPAK continues to investigate numerous corruption cases involving both current and former officials, asserting its role in combating systemic corruption regardless of political affiliations.
There is a marked difference in the attitude and behavior towards SPAK between the opposition and ruling majority. The opposition has long chosen to attack SPAK in very harsh terms that at times bordered on outright threats. This behavior has become more violent since its leader was placed under house arrest. Two days earlier the opposition held a violent protest calling for the release of Sali Berisha.
The ruling majority on the other hand, has never publicly attacked SPAK although there have been far more arrests among serious members of the majority than the opposition. It has supported it in action and in words, although there is dissatisfaction among Socialists with the way SPAK is handling Berisha. Most Socialists would like to see Berisha investigated and prosecuted for his role in the killing of four protesters on January 21, 2011, or the killing of 26 others in the Gërdec explosion. Investigating him for a banal case of corruption somehow does not satisfy the call for real justice for some of the worst crimes that have happened in post-communist Albania.
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