Belinda Balluku

Belinda Balluku
Balluku in 2023
Deputy Prime Minister of Albania
In office
28 July 2022 – 26 February 2026
PresidentIlir Meta
Bajram Begaj
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byArben Ahmetaj
Succeeded byAlbana Koçiu
Minister of Infrastructure and Energy
In office
17 January 2019 – 26 February 2026
PresidentIlir Meta
Bajram Begaj
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byDamian Gjiknuri
Succeeded byEnea Karakaci
Member of the 31st Parliament of Albania
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 September 2021 (2021-09-10)
Parliamentary groupPS
ConstituencyTirana
Personal details
Born (1973-10-09) 9 October 1973
Tirana, People's Socialist Republic of Albania
PartySocialist
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2004; div. 2015)​
Children2
Signature

Belinda Balluku (born 9 October 1973) is an Albanian politician who has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Albania from 2022 until 2026, as well as serving as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania from 2019 until 2026.[1][2] She has also been a Member of the Parliament of Albania representing the District of Tirana since 2021.

On 20 November 2025, the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime ordered the suspension from her governmental duties and a ban on leaving the country following her being formally charged by the Special Prosecution Office in connection with the Llogara Tunnel affair, including alleged violations of equality in public procurement related to the tunnel project and the fourth lot of Tirana’s Outer Ring Road.[3][4]

Early and personal life

Balluku was born on 9 October 1973 in Tirana.[5] She stated in an interview that her family was persecuted during the Communist era of Albania and that her dad, Çlirim Balluku, worked in bitumen mines in Selenicë.[6] Her grandfather was Beqir Balluku, an early member of the communist movement in Albania and the Minister of People's Defence, who was executed in November 1975 for organizing a coup against the government.[7]

She graduated from the Athens Institute of Technology with degrees in law and business administration, and later on obtained an honorary master's degree in management from the International Air Transport Association's facilities in Miami.[8] She was previously director of the companies of Albcontrol, the National Air Traffic Agency, and was a senior member of the state-owned mobile telephone company Telekom Albania as the Director of Customer Care and later of marketing.[5] She is the ex-wife of journalist Sokol Balla.[9] She has two children: Colin and Belen.[5]

Political career

In 2004, Mrs. Balluku joined the staff of the Municipality of Tirana, initially as a Public Relations Advisor and later as Director of the Mayor's Cabinet.[10] During this period, she led the development of communication strategies with the public and the media.[10] In 2006 she formally joined the Socialist Party of Albania.[11] In 2019 she became Minister of Infrastructure and Energy in the cabinet of Edi Rama, and later in the 2021 Albanian parliamentary elections was elected to the Parliament of Albania for the District of Tirana.[11] In 2022 she announced that the ministry would attempt to implement a plan where citizens received scheduled energy in the case of emergencies.[11] She is the political leader of the Socialist Party in the Fier municipality.[12]

2025 corruption investigation

In November 2025, Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption Structure (SPAK) announced criminal charges against Balluku and several officials from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy in connection with the public tender for the Llogara Tunnel.[13] According to the prosecutors’ filing, Signal messages recovered from the phone of Evis Berberi, then director of the Albanian Road Authority, allegedly showed Balluku discussing tender deadlines and bidder details.[13] SPAK accuses the group of “creating unjust advantages” for the Turkish consortium Intekar Yapi & ASL Insaat in violation of Albania’s procurement laws (Law 162/2020 and Decision 285/2021). Balluku has denied any wrongdoing.

On 20 November 2025, the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime ordered two security measures against Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku: suspension from her governmental duties and a ban on leaving the country. Balluku had previously stated in parliament that she would not comment on ongoing investigations and had reaffirmed her support for the justice reform.[14]

On February 26, Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania and leader of Socialist Party of Albania, dismissed Belinda Balluku from the government as the investigation intensified.[15]

Parliamentary vote on immunity and arrest authorization

Earlier measures imposed by SPAK include suspension from public office and a ban on leaving Albania, with her passport blocked while the investigation proceeds.[16] Despite these existing restrictions, SPAK requested a stricter preventive measure (arrest or house arrest), arguing that there was risk of interference with the investigation, including alleged intimidation of witnesses and potential manipulation or destruction of evidence.[17][18][19] Because Balluku is a sitting member of parliament, SPAK needed the Assembly to lift her parliamentary immunity before any arrest measure could be executed.[20]

On 12 March 2026, the Albanian parliament rejected SPAK’s request to lift Balluku’s immunity, meaning she remains under investigation with existing restrictions such as the travel ban but cannot currently be arrested.[21][22]

References

  1. ^ "Albania: New govt ministers sworn in, EU considers it an important moment". Independent Balkan News Agency. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  2. ^ Jonuzaj, Klaudjo (17 January 2019). "Albania's parliament endorses government reshuffle". SeeNews. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Vendimi - GJKKO dy masa sigurie për Belinda Ballukun - Pezullim i ushtrimit të detyrës dhe ndalim i daljes jashtë vendit". Syri | Lajmi i fundit (in Albanian). 20 November 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Albania Suspends Deputy PM Balluku in Major Tender Probe". OCCRP. 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "CV-ja e Belinda Ballukut, e vetmja eksperiencë profesionale që përputhet me postin që i dha Rama". Politiko. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  6. ^ ""Babai im s'ka qenë dakord me rrugëtimin tim në politikë" - Belinda Balluku: Familja ime ishte ndër më të persekutuarat, me mbi 110 vite burg dhe internime". Gazeta Tema. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Dokumenti sekret: Si u pushkatua gjyshi i ministres Belinda Balluku, fjalët e fundit para ekzekutimit". Gazeta Dita (in Albanian). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  8. ^ "H.E. Belinda Balluku". Atlantic Council. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  9. ^ "Kush është Belinda Balluku? "Shtriga" e Ramës që ai e emëroi ministre të Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë". Joq Albania. (in Albanian). 28 December 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Belinda Balluku Minister". Infrastruktura. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b c "Profile/ Belinda Bulluku the most 'superpowerful' in the Rama 3 cabinet". Vox News. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Belinda Balluku në çeljen e fushatës: Fieri ka një objektiv, 10 mandate deputetësh". Gazeta Koha Jonë (in Albanian). 12 April 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  13. ^ a b Sinoruka, Fjori (31 October 2025). "Albania's Deputy PM Investigated for Violating Public Procurement Rules". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Vendimi - GJKKO dy masa sigurie për Belinda Ballukun - Pezullim i ushtrimit të detyrës dhe ndalim i daljes jashtë vendit". Syri | Lajmi i fundit (in Albanian). 20 November 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Albanian PM fires deputy as corruption investigation heats up". Reuters. 26 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Pas Llogarasë, Balluku nën hetim edhe për Unazën e Madhe! GJKKO e pezullon nga detyra, SPAK: Shkelje me dy tenderët, masat u ekzekutuan! Mister orët e gjata të qëndrimit në kryeministri - Shqiptarja.com". shqiptarja.com (in Albanian). Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Parliament decides today on Balluk's immunity, SPAK's request for her arrest up for vote". Reporteri.net.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Këshilli i Mandateve/ Publikohet raporti i Opozitës për imunitetin e Ballukut: Prokuroria konfirmon kërcënim dëshmitarësh dhe rrezik prishjeje provash". DOSJA.AL. 3 March 2026. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  19. ^ "No surprise/ PS blocks Balluk's immunity, using force of cards to reject SPAK's request for arrest in Parliament (VIDEO)". Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  20. ^ Kryeziu, Erisa (9 March 2026). "Socialist Party defends Belinda Balluku: Inviolable immunity". Citizens.al. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  21. ^ Hodo, Genta (12 March 2026). "Albanian parliament blocks arrest of ex-deputy PM Balluku | Albania Politics News | SeeNews". seenews.com. Retrieved 12 March 2026.
  22. ^ "The Assembly did not authorize Balluk's arrest, as the SP votes 'flowed', the PSD came to his aid". Retrieved 12 March 2026.
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