Albanian opposition leader ahead of elections investigated


Prosecutors have launched an investigation after the Democratic Party has accused the opposition Socialist leader Edi Rama, of abusing his office when he was mayor of Tirana

By Besar Likmeta, BIRN

Albi Serjani , spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, told Balkan Insight on Monday that a criminal complaint was registered ten days ago, based on a complaint to the municipality of Tirana.

Registration will issue says prosecutors will interview witnesses and hire experts to assess whether a crime has occurred and the socialist leader may be called to testify.

Serjani said investigators are looking into allegations of abuse of power, but there is still no suspects identified.

On January 13, Tirana Municipality filed a criminal complaint in connection with a four-storey building, which belongs to the family and friends of Linda Basha, the wife of Rama, on charges of taking an illegal building permits in 2006, when Socialist leader was mayor.

According to the Municipality of Tirana, the land where construction is planned to set up a green space and permission has violated the law.

The Democratic Party has called this permit as a 'wedding gift' from his wife Rama, Rama though not connected crown until October 2010.

Both the Rama and his wife have denied any infringement and characterized the charges as politically motivated.

Rama, leader of the Socialist Party, served as mayor of Tirana for three terms from 2000 to 2011. He lost the election in May 2011, which was described as controversial.

An anti-corruption task force of Tirana prosecutor's office has launched a preliminary verification of the claim in January and now has registered criminal proceedings.

The case comes two months before parliamentary elections June 23 and has the chance to increase political tensions, which are already too high.

It charges that the situation is even more during that time had to realize the verification process prior to the lawsuit.

According to an order of the Attorney General, after a preliminary verification criminal conviction should not last more than 30 days.

In this case it took more than three months to record criminal proceedings, prompting the investigation in the initial stages of the campaign.