The Socialist majority rejected on Thursday the opposition's request to include in the Assembly's agenda the vote on the request of the Special Prosecution Office, SPAK, which seeks authorization for an arrest measure against MP Belinda Balluku.
The parliamentary procedure for the request of the Special Prosecution Office, SPAK, for the arrest of MP Belinda Balluku is heading towards the time limits, while the socialist majority is dragging out the vote in the plenary session with the claim that they do not yet have a political position.
In Thursday's session, the opposition requested the inclusion of the report of its members in the Mandates Council on the voting agenda and accused the majority of seeking to fail the parliamentary procedure, violating the 3-month time limit foreseen for this procedure.
The chairman of the DP parliamentary group, Gazment Bardhi, said that "the request is urgent in nature, while there is still a week left before it is considered rejected."
But the chairman of the Socialist group, Taulant Balla, said that the Socialist Party did not yet have its report ready, nor a 'collegial' decision of the group of deputies, while promising that the vote in the session would be held without violating the 3-month time limit. He claimed that after the last meeting of the Mandates Council, the parties have 2 weeks to draft the report and the Socialist members do not yet have their report ready.
"This parliamentary group is serious, where decisions are not made by one person, by the group chairman, but are collegial decisions," said Balla.
Referring to the deadlines, Balla added that the vote will take place at the March 12 session for both reports.
Opposition members of the Council for Regulation, Mandates and Immunity submitted their report on Monday, recommending a vote in favor of the Special Prosecution's request for an arrest warrant against former Deputy Prime Minister Balluku.
The report is based on the evidence brought by SPAK to the Assembly, constitutional jurisprudence, the opinions of the Venice Commission, and the spirit of the anti-corruption fight.
SPAK's request was submitted to the Assembly on December 16, 2025, while the Assembly's decision-making was initially delayed by the Speaker of the Assembly, Niko Peleshi, by not calling a meeting of the Mandates Council.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama took over Balluk's political and legal protection from a security measure of 'suspension from duty' issued by the Special Court, which was left in force by the Constitutional Court.
At the end of the legal process in the Constitutional Court, Rama decided to dismiss Balluku from executive duties, a dismissal that became effective in Thursday's session with the vote of 85 deputies.
The session also voted on the dismissal of two other ministers, Elisa Spiropali and Pirro Vengu, and the appointment of new ministers to the government; Albana Koçiu as Deputy Prime Minister, Besfort Lamallari as Minister of Interior, Toni Gogu as Minister of Justice, Ferit Hoxha as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ermal Nufi as Minister of Defense, Enea Karakaçi as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, and Eriona Ismaili as Minister of State for Relations with Parliament. /BIRN/
