Sali Berisha, the former Prime Minister and current leader of the Democratic Party, has declared the recent arrest of Freedom Party President Ilir Meta by the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) as politically motivated. Berisha, who is under house arrest since last December facing corruption charges, vehemently denied that his stance would ever support corrupt actions by anyone, yet he firmly rejected what he perceives as political accusations against any individual.

Why is this important: Berisha’s statement comes at a critical time, not only as he confronts his own legal challenges, including charges of corruption linked to the privatization of a sports complex in Tirana, but also as he remains a vocal figure in Albanian politics. His comments reflect ongoing tensions within the political landscape of Albania, where allegations of corruption frequently intersect with claims of political maneuvering. On October 29 he has called for yet another protest against the arrests.

Context: Berisha highlighted an alleged incident involving Meta and another politician, Monika Kryemadhi. They are accused of initially agreeing with a businessman to pass legislation in exchange for a villa, which they later renounced. However, Berisha argued that with only 20 deputies, Meta could not have influenced parliamentary decisions without broader support, suggesting that larger political forces must be involved. This assertion points to Berisha’s broader critique that the current governance structure allows for significant abuse of power, undermining the constitution and the parliament’s integrity.

Berisha’s ongoing legal issues and international repercussions: Sali Berisha is currently under house arrest, accused alongside his son-in-law of corruption involving the privatization of a sports complex where luxury residences were built. Adding to his troubles, Berisha has been declared ‘persona non grata’ by the United States for corruption and blacklisted by the UK for links to organized crime.

Opposition’s stance and future actions: In his statement, Berisha emphasized that the opposition would continue to engage in civil disobedience until Albanians can vote freely. He outlined his strategy, mentioning that his Plan A and his Plan B are continued civil disobedience, the formation of a technical government, and the holding of free elections, signifying a sustained campaign against the current administration.