By Desada Metaj
The SP seems to be clearly moving towards the decision not to surrender Belinda Balluku's immunity. Despite the procedural delays with the date of the meeting of the Mandates Council or the justifications for the decision of the Constitutional Court, the majority has decided that it will not tolerate the request of the Special Prosecution Office. This is a purely political decision and, no matter how hard the "lawyers" of the SP or those close to it try, they cannot hide the pure truth that the armored majority with 83 mandates will not surrender before the investigations of the SPAK. This position is so clear that it seems that even the draft law written by Ulsi Manja to amend the Criminal Procedure Code in Article 242 has remained in the drawers of the Parliament to make way for the completely political approach of the SP.
Although it seems paradoxical, the only honest person in this final clash with the Special Prosecution Office is Edi Rama. Ever since SPAK put Erion Veliaj in handcuffs, the prime minister appeared angry, complaining that Albania was turning into a republic of prosecutors. He seemed even more aggressive in the case of his deputy. Not only for SPAK, but also for the Constitutional Court, Edi Rama did not spare public insults, threats, and even moves to limit their activity by changing laws or the reform itself. Although the latter is a sophisticated move, since Edi Rama knows better than anyone that due to EU integration he cannot touch the reform, he did not spare threats and pressures at any moment.
In vain did his vassals in the Assembly and the parliamentary group try to calm him down with promises that all the confusion would be cleared up if he delayed in the complicated procedures of the Assembly for the lifting of immunity or even earlier in the annals of the Constitutional Court. Although he tried both options, Edi Rama is today more than ever clear that the only salvation for his government from the impasse is politics. And this time not petty games, threats and pressures, but a direct confrontation with the Special Prosecution Office.
On Thursday, when the parliamentary group will eagerly await Edi Rama's verdict, it would be in the latter's honor to clearly tell the deputies what he has repeatedly articulated clearly in public. That the war with SPAK has now consolidated to levels from which there is no turning back. And that the SP will no longer hand over any immunity to any of its deputies or ministers.
In this case, Taulant Balla and Ulsi Manja would breathe a sigh of relief that they will no longer have the embarrassment of drafting laws or finding loopholes in the Assembly's regulations to save their friends. A majority with 83 votes has paved the way to change any law, and even, if it works seriously, it can change the Constitution. Those in front of it are currently busy with Molotov cocktails and fireworks. As such, this majority can protect through the laws it will approve anyone it thinks is being investigated unfairly.
And finally we will no longer have some mothers praising SPAK and some stepmothers complaining that we are turning into a republic of prosecutors. Edi Rama must lead this final battle with the new justice system and I believe that he will have no difficulty defeating his own creation. As he likes to call the reform.
Otherwise, on Thursday he will have to surrender Balluk's immunity and his own. And since he doesn't seem to intend to do this, it's best to roll up his sleeves for the final battle with the new justice system he's so anxious about. Only for this he needs a little more than Ulsi Manja and a little less than Fatmir Xhafaj...
