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DP MPs, meeting with McAllister and MEPs/ Discussions clarified

2026-02-18 16:27:00, Politikë CNA

Some of the Democratic Party MPs held a meeting today with the delegation of the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, led by Chairman David McAllister.

According to a DP announcement, the head of the Parliamentary Group Gazment Bardhi, together with MPs Jorida Tabaku and Albana Vokshi, have expressed their appreciation for the European Parliament's report on the May 11 elections.

Among other things, it is said that at the meeting, MPs expressed concern about the regression that Albania has made over the years in the fight against corruption and organized crime.

DP announcement:

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party, Mr. Gazment Bardhi, accompanied by the Deputy Chairman of the Delegation of the Albanian Parliament to the EU-Albania Stabilization and Association Committee, Ms. Jorida Tabaku and the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ms. Albana Vokshi, met today with the Mission of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament headed by the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. David McAllister, accompanied by 8 MEPs of the European Parliament.

During the meeting, the representatives of the DP Parliamentary Group expressed their appreciation for the European Parliament report on the general elections of May 11, which found a lack of equality between the parties in the elections and the interference of organized crime in them. This report is an alarm bell for the elections in Albania and it is necessary not only for the European Parliament to follow this issue, but also to establish that without a Technical Government that guarantees non-interference of the state in the elections and prevents the involvement of organized crime in them, Albania cannot guarantee the standards for free and fair elections. “The distortion of the elections brings serious consequences for the democratic functioning of the institutions in the country” – the DP representatives expressed at the meeting.

They highlighted with concern the regression that Albania has made in recent years in the fight against corruption and organized crime. The corruption case of Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku and the political protection that the majority is giving her are a critical test for the fight against corruption and Albania's European path. "During these weeks, Prime Minister Edi Rama has undertaken a campaign of obstruction and attack against justice institutions, aiming to intimidate them and hinder investigations in specific cases," said the opposition representatives at the meeting.

The "Balluku" case and the "AKSHI" case are the most typical cases of how the majority is aiming to obstruct justice, to protect corrupt officials or the Prime Minister's family members involved in illegal benefits of public funds. "Legal proposals to grant more immunity to corrupt officials go against the EU's demand for an uncompromising fight against corruption and impunity" - said the opposition representatives at the meeting.

Another issue addressed by opposition representatives at the meeting is the government's cooperation with organized crime, as well as the lack of a real fight against money laundering in Albania. Although the Special Prosecution Office has cracked down on some of the criminal organizations in the country, none of the leaders of these organizations have been arrested and continue their criminal activities peacefully, under the protection of the Government and the State Police.

At the end of the meeting, the DP representatives thanked the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee for increasing attention to developments in Albania and the objectivity with which they address concerns that hinder Albania's European future. They assured the MEPs that the Albanian opposition remains committed and fully supports Albania's European integration process, based on measurable achievements and meritocracy. /CNA