From denunciation to impunity

2026-06-18 22:39:00, Editorial CNA

One of the oldest wounds of Albanian public life is the gap between what is denounced and what is punished. Media files, wiretaps, reports, public accusations and preliminary investigations create the feeling that the truth is on the table. But the final punishment often moves at a different pace, when it does not stop at all.

This is not just about justice. It is also about how the political protection chain is built. A major scandal is usually not sustained by a single individual. There is an administration that signs off, officials who remain silent, parties that align, spokespeople who relativize, and economic allies who wait for the storm to pass. The wider the network, the more difficult it becomes to hold accountable.

That's why public anger often hits a wall. Not because the facts are always lacking, but because the system has learned to buy time. And in politics, time is often worth more than the truth. The longer an issue drags on, the more its effect on the public fades.

SPAK, justice and the fear of the political class
June 17, 2:32 PM

The most common scandals are not accidental

There is a reason why the same types of scandals are repeated in Albania. They are related to the points where the government controls money, appointments and influence. Public tenders, permits, concessions, employment in the administration, management of funds, relations with business and the use of state assets are the terrain where scandals most easily germinate.

This is because economic interest and political protection come together. When a public decision-making has a large financial value, the risk of abuse increases. When there is little real transparency and a lot of propaganda about that decision-making, the risk becomes even greater. And when institutional control comes late, the field is wide open.

Not every accusation is automatically proven, and this is a distinction that must be maintained. But it is equally true that many issues in Albania would never have received attention without media pressure, public denunciations, and the persistence of journalists. This is why a media with a critical instinct is not a luxury, but a necessity.

The standard we need from SPAK and the court
October 24, 15:15

The role of the media between exposure and spectacle

The media has a dual role in this story. On the one hand, it uncovers, documents, questions, and keeps issues alive that the government would rather keep quiet about. On the other hand, when the scandal is treated only as a spectacle, without follow-up and without editorial memory, its effect diminishes.

The problem is not just the noise. The problem is the pace of consumption. A strong story can dominate for two days, then be drowned out by the next news cycle. This serves politics, not the public.

Because the government knows that some crises are managed by waiting. Therefore, strong reporting must be accompanied by continuous follow-up: where the investigation went, who was questioned, who benefited, who is responsible, and what really changed.

This is where an unfiltered approach, like the one the CNA.al audience demands, has real value. Not to shout louder than others, but to not let the scandal die as soon as the studio's interest wanes./ CNA