Democratic Party files second corruption complaint against Deputy PM
The Democratic Party (DP) has submitted a second complaint to the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Belinda Balluku. The head of the DP parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, accuses Balluku of approving an inflated budget for the Albanian Energy Corporation’s (KESH) photovoltaic plant project at the Zadeja Dam, alleging that it cost three times more than similar private projects.
Why is it important: This marks the second major accusation by Bardhi against Balluku. The first, filed earlier this year, accused her of mismanagement in electricity trading, which Bardhi claims caused a €180 million loss to the state budget over one year.
Context: The accusations come against the backdrop of the spring 2024 elections, where Bardhi and Balluku have been positioned by their respective parties as political rivals in the Fier district. Their escalating confrontation reflects the broader electoral strategy of both parties, as Bardhi aims to dominate the race by intensifying his accusations, a tactic he previously employed in Elbasan during the 2021 elections. That campaign saw a fatal clash between Bardhi’s security team and Socialist supporters, resulting in one death and injuries to a police officer.
In the latest complaint, Bardhi alleges that through a corrupt scheme, Balluku caused a €5 million loss to the state budget in KESH’s photovoltaic plant project. According to the DP, the project exemplifies what they describe as systematic corruption under Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government.
Bardhi has urged SPAK to conduct a thorough investigation, labeling the case as a “blatant example of how this government steals from Albanians.” He claims the Zadeja Dam project, built for €8 million under state supervision, is nearly three times more expensive than equivalent private-sector projects.
What’s next: As the election campaign intensifies in Fier, the legal and political battle between Bardhi and Balluku is likely to escalate. While SPAK is expected to investigate the allegations, the case highlights the broader use of corruption claims as a political weapon in Albania’s polarized electoral landscape.
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