Democrats file motion to impeach President Begaj, citing seven constitutional violations

The Democratic Party has submitted to Parliament a formal request to impeach President Bajram Begaj, accusing him of seven constitutional breaches ranging from abuse of powers to conflicts of interest.

Why is this important: The impeachment motion marks the most serious institutional clash between the opposition and the presidency in recent years. The Democrats argue that Begaj has “crossed red lines” by overstepping constitutional limits, while the ruling majority has already dismissed the move as a political stunt with no legal grounds.

What are the alleged violations:
According to the Democratic Party, the seven alleged breaches include:

• Decreeing local by-elections in Tirana while no constitutional vacancy existed, since former Mayor Erion Veliaj had appealed his dismissal to the Constitutional Court.
• Interfering with judicial independence by requesting the early termination of Constitutional Court members’ mandates through a letter sent to the Court on January 30.
• Ignoring the opposition’s right to parliamentary oversight by decreeing a majority-backed law on investigative committees without proper consultation.
• Appointing a “virtual minister” in violation of the Constitution.
• Allowing foreign ambassadors to engage in electoral campaigns.
• Permitting his legal adviser to simultaneously work for the Central Election Commission, undermining the political neutrality of the presidency.
• Allowing his son to work for an insurance company that has secured state contracts, creating a conflict of interest.

What else: Opposition leader Gazment Bardhi added an eighth accusation during a press conference, claiming the president holds multiple paid positions:

“In the morning he’s president, in the afternoon a consultant at a private hospital, and in the evening he lectures at the Military Academy — the Constitution clearly forbids the president from holding any other job. Where there’s money, there’s Begaj,” Bardhi said.

What are they saying: Despite the formal filing, the Socialist majority made clear it will not initiate any parliamentary procedure for impeachment.

“President Begaj has committed no constitutional violation and will not be removed,” said Taulant Balla, head of the Socialist group.

Both Balla and Bardhi acknowledged that only the Constitutional Court can determine whether the president has breached the Constitution. The Democrats urged Begaj not to seek political protection from Prime Minister Edi Rama but to face the charges before the Court.