On Saturday, November 22, a meeting was held at the Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption and Organized Crime to examine the restrictive measures imposed on the temporarily suspended Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, as well as her two associates, the former head of the road construction authority, Gentian Gjyli, and the current director of the country's energy provider (KESH), Erald Elezi.

The court upheld Balluku's suspension from her duties and her travel ban. She was represented in the proceedings by her sister, Pamela Qirko, and her lawyer, Ardian Kalia.

The three officials are under investigation in cases involving two major public works projects: the Logaras Tunnel and the Tirana Grand Ring Road. The evidence being examined by the authorities points to possible pre-selection of contractors and violation of equality rules in the tender process.

According to more recent information, the court has reaffirmed the restrictive measures for both Balluku and Gentian Gjyli and Erald Elezi, who will continue to be under house arrest.

Η Αντίδραση της κυβέρνησης

Following these developments, the official reaction of the Albanian government was made public, through a request submitted by the Council of Ministers to the Constitutional Court regarding the decision of the Special Criminal Court, which had imposed the suspension of Belinda Balluku from her duties and the blocking of her passport.

In the document forwarded to the Constitutional Court, the government claims that a conflict of competence has arisen between the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, on the one hand, and the judicial authority that issued the decision, on the other, as to who has the right to dismiss a member of the Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers requests the suspension of the November 19 decision until the case is examined by the Constitutional Court, the annulment of the part imposing restrictive measures on Balluku, as well as the official interpretation of article 103, paragraph 3, of the Constitution, which determines the limits and conditions for the exercise of the duties of members of the government.

Earlier on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Edi Rama publicly addressed the Special Criminal Court's decision, stating that the government will fully respect the outcome of the proceedings and will not engage in "political confrontations" with the new judiciary. He stressed, however, that any potential interference with the independence of the executive branch will be brought before the Constitutional Court.