The Constitutional Court failed to reach a decision on the Balluku case yesterday either. Although the judges gathered in the consultation room, they again emerged without a decision, raising strong suspicions that some of them are unclear (at best) on a matter that has aroused political, international and public interest.
While the “fate” of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku seems to be at stake, few people seem to see that the real unknown in this equation is the office of the Prime Minister of Albania. Balluku’s fate may be in question in the Constitutional Court, but the expected decision could forever extinguish Edi Rama’s political star. A star that has managed to shine after every crisis precisely because of such dynamics.
This time, its star is in the hands of eight constitutional judges, who are struggling to deliver a decision that they seem to know how it should be, but are afraid to put it on paper. Whether this hesitation comes from increased pressure from Edi Rama or from internationals who have recently met and sent messages to the members of this court, this is not known for sure.
What is clear is that at least three members of this court have been ready to make a decision since yesterday. VNA learned that Asim Vokshi, Marsida Xhaferllari and Ilir Toska insisted in yesterday's meeting that all eight judges finally express their opinion on Prime Minister Edi Rama's request.
The ambiguities — which include the newly elected president of the court Fiona Papajorgji, Sonila Bejtja (whose mandate has ended), for whom Edi Rama is "warming" the chair of Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, Sander Beci, who is close to the Socialist Party, Marjana Semini, and Gent Ibrahimi, who is eager to leave the meetings — are the five members who are visibly struggling and do not know who to spoil and who to fix.
The parent party and the prime minister have likely placed them in a tight squeeze, between the “stick and the carrot.” But at the same time, the eyes of international observers are equally important for the future of their seats.
Moreover, the new president of this court, Ms. Papajorgji, has turned this issue into a legal and communicative chaos by moving away from regular procedure, transparency and notification of meetings for the media and citizens. For days, journalists have been waiting at the doors of the Constitutional Court where meetings continue and there is no official announcement on the topic or when a decision is expected on one of the issues of greatest interest to the public.
Clearly without a compass, five members of the Constitutional Court seem to have lost their bearings, hoping that by buying time they will perhaps find a solution that satisfies all parties. But this, unfortunately for them, is practically impossible: no matter how they orient their political compass, the decision will leave one party dissatisfied. This is for the political part of the issue.
As for geography, it is good that the 5 members without a compass understand that no matter how you turn the compass, the Prime Minister's Office building is located in the east of Tirana. While to the west are other buildings that await this place with attention. And perhaps they remember the words of Edi Rama when he considers the west as the orienting compass for Albania and its future.
