Protest against SPAK: supporters of former president rally against corruption charges
On his Friday, supporters of the Freedom Party (former Socialist Movement for Integration) gathered outside the offices of Albania’s Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) to protest the arrest of their leader, former President Ilir Meta. He is currently in pre-trial detention on charges of passive corruption, failure to declare assets, and concealment of wealth. The protest was organized at the former president’s request, as he penned a letter from custody accusing SPAK of unconstitutional and unlawful actions aimed at serving what he termed as a “Narcoregime” to secure another four-year mandate through undemocratic means.
Why is this important: The protest highlights the sharp political divide surrounding Albania’s justice reform. Both the Freedom Party and the Democratic Party have publicly attacked the new justice system since investigations began against their leaders, Ilir Meta and Sali Berisha, for alleged corruption during their time in office. While opposition parties celebrate when justice targets figures in Prime Minister Edi Rama’s administration, they fiercely criticize and protest when inquiries focus on their own ranks. This duality has cast doubt on their stance toward judicial independence.
Context: From prison, Meta accused SPAK’s Chief, Altin Dumani, of prioritizing the interests of Prime Minister Rama and Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj over the rule of law. Meta claimed Dumani’s recent public statements reveal his intention to serve the government’s agenda to secure another term as head of SPAK, a claim Meta alleges he has warned of for months.
Protesters, including prominent Freedom Party figures carried banners with slogans like “No Justice on Command!” and chanted against Dumani and SPAK. The rally, however, saw a larger police presence than the number of demonstrators, raising questions about the protest’s scale and impact.
Broader implications: The Freedom Party’s protest reflects ongoing tensions over Albania’s justice reform, which aims to combat high-level corruption. Meta and Berisha have positioned themselves as vocal critics of SPAK, framing its actions as politically motivated. Meanwhile, the government and SPAK leadership insist on the impartiality of investigations and their commitment to the rule of law.
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