Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has downplayed the level of corruption by Albanian politicians during a conference in Tirana on Tuesday, and blamed prosecutors and judges as the most corrupt in the country.
Rama spoke at a conference titled “Strengthening Integrity and Fighting Corruption: Latest Achievements”, also attended by the EU and US Ambassadors in Albania.
“Politicians in Albania are not the head of corruption. It hasn’t been them, although they have been involved in it. Its head has been the corporation of these judges and prosecutors who have created the impunity in the system,” Rama stated.
He related the successful fight against corruption to the fight against corruption within the justice system.
“There will be no blows against senior officials for corruption if there are no blows against corruption within the justice system,” Rama insisted.
The prime minister expressed his confidence that the new justice institutions, the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office (SPAK) in particular will restore the Albanians’ trust in the justice system.
“Otherwise, SPAK will be the biggest disappointment,” he highlighted.
Rama called on SPAK to investigate judges and prosecutors dismissed by the vetting process.
