Albanian Parliament Refuses to Strip Immunity from Former Deputy PM Accused of Corruption

Albania's parliament voted to reject a request to lift the parliamentary immunity of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, effectively preventing her arrest in connection with a corruption investigation. The decision shields Balluku from detention while prosecutors pursue charges against her. As a sitting member of parliament, Balluku enjoys immunity from prosecution under Albanian law, which can only be lifted by a parliamentary vote. The corruption case represents part of ongoing efforts to address graft in Albanian politics, though the parliamentary protection highlights the challenges prosecutors face when pursuing cases against high-ranking officials who retain legislative positions.