Ten days before the Constitutional Court is to rule on the case related to Belinda Balluku, the United States Chargé d'Affaires in Tirana, Nancy VanHorn, visited the office of the newly appointed President of the Constitutional Court, Fiona Papajorgji.
The visit comes at a delicate political and institutional moment, on the eve of the session announced for the 22nd, where the Constitutional Court is expected to consider one of the most sensitive issues for the majority. The public and often flagrant interventions of Prime Minister Edi Rama regarding this process have raised serious questions about political pressure on the justice institutions.
The concern of the American envoy in Tirana is likely not related personally to Fiona Papajorgji, who has only held this position for a few weeks, but to the climate in which the Constitutional Court is expected to make a decision of political and legal importance.
The official announcement published by the US Embassy on the social network Facebook states that:
“Today, Charge d’Affaires Nancy VanHorn congratulated newly appointed Constitutional Court Chief Justice Fiona Papajorgji and discussed how the United States’ long-standing support for law enforcement institutions in Albania advances President Trump’s priorities: dismantling drug trafficking networks and creating a level playing field for American businesses. The Constitutional Court plays an important role in ensuring justice for Albanian citizens, holding accountable those who violate its laws, and preserving a fair and predictable legal system so that American businesses can thrive.”
