Belinda Balluku

Belinda Balluku (born 9 October 1973) is an Albanian politician who served as Deputy Prime Minister of Albania from 2022 to 2026 and as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy from 2019 to 2026. A member of the Socialist Party of Albania (PS), she has been a member of the Parliament of Albania for Tirana County since 2021.

Before entering national government, Balluku worked in the Municipality of Tirana, in the telecommunications sector, and as director general of Albcontrol, Albania's national air navigation services provider.

In late 2025, the Special Structure against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) filed criminal charges against Balluku in connection with public tenders for major infrastructure projects, including the Llogara Tunnel and part of Tirana's Outer Ring Road. Prosecutors accused her of interfering in procurement procedures and favouring selected companies; Balluku denied wrongdoing and said she would cooperate with the justice system. The case triggered opposition protests, a debate over judicial independence, and renewed scrutiny of high-level corruption in Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama dismissed Balluku from the government in February 2026, and in March 2026 the Albanian parliament rejected SPAK's request to lift her parliamentary immunity for arrest measures.

Early life and education Balluku was born in Tirana on 9 October 1973. Her grandfather was Beqir Balluku, a senior communist-era military figure and former Minister of People's Defence who was executed in 1975 after being accused by the regime of plotting against Enver Hoxha. Balluku has said in interviews that members of her family were persecuted after Beqir Balluku's fall from power.

According to biographical material published for international energy forums, Balluku studied law and business administration and completed professional qualifications in air navigation services management through the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In March 2026, after her dismissal from government, she was reported to have been reconfirmed as the Socialist Party's political leader for Fier.

International observers stated that the 2025 parliamentary elections were competitive and professionally managed, but that contestants did not enjoy a level playing field. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) reported intimidation, misuse of public resources, pressure on public employees, procedural shortcomings, vote buying, and problems with ballot secrecy. Those findings concerned the overall electoral environment and did not constitute a personal criminal finding against Balluku.

Corruption investigation Background to the infrastructure tenders The main investigation involving Balluku concerned public tenders carried out while she was Minister of Infrastructure and Energy. The most prominent was the Llogara Tunnel, a major road tunnel project on the route between Vlorë and the southern Albanian coast. SPAK and media reports also connected the investigation to the fourth lot of Tirana's Outer Ring Road.

According to Reuters, SPAK alleged that Balluku interfered in the awarding of two construction contracts in 2021 worth more than €200 million. Balkan Insight reported that anti-corruption prosecutors were investigating Balluku for violating public procurement rules in relation to the Llogara Tunnel tender.

Albanian media later published excerpts said to be from the investigation file, including alleged communications on the Signal messaging application between Balluku and Evis Berberi, then head of the Albanian Road Authority. Balkan Insight reported that the leaked file alleged close involvement by Balluku in the tender process and included messages discussing procurement timing and companies involved in the tender.

Parliamentary immunity vote Because Balluku remained a member of parliament, SPAK required parliamentary authorisation to apply arrest measures. Reuters reported in February 2026 that SPAK had asked parliament to lift her immunity to enable her arrest.

On 12 March 2026, the Parliament of Albania rejected SPAK's request to lift Balluku's immunity. European Western Balkans, citing SeeNews, reported that 82 lawmakers, mainly from the ruling Socialist Party, voted against the request, while 47 voted in favour of lifting her immunity; Balluku was not present at the vote.

Rama defended the parliamentary decision, arguing that judicial independence and support for SPAK were not being reversed and that parliament had acted within constitutional norms.

Broader political context The controversy around Balluku occurred during a period in which international observers and watchdog organisations repeatedly raised concerns about Albania's political environment. ODIHR's final report on the 2025 parliamentary elections stated that the elections were competitive and professionally managed but did not provide a level playing field, citing intimidation, misuse of public resources, pressure on public employees, procedural shortcomings, vote buying, and ballot secrecy problems. RSF also noted that Albania had fallen to 83rd out of 180 countries in its 2026 World Press Freedom Index and that media ownership transparency remained a major issue because private outlets were often owned by families with political ties and economic interests in regulated sectors. These concerns formed part of the wider political environment in which the Balluku case was debated, but were not personal judicial findings against her.

Personal life Balluku was married to journalist Sokol Balla from 2004 until their divorce in 2015. They have two children.