Albanian Constitutional Court Rejects Democratic Party's Request, Prompting Calls for Investigation

The Constitutional Court of Albania has rejected the request of the Democratic Party (DP) to repeal the law on the administration of Butrint National Park. The court ruled that the agreement for the management of the park by the Albanian American Fund for Development (AADF) does not affect national identity or cultural heritage, and that the state maintains its sovereign attributes over the property.

DP deputy Ina Zhupa criticized the court's decision, claiming that it has been politically influenced and has served the government's interests, even when they contradict the constitution, public interest, and national interest. Zhupa listed several alleged violations in the court's handling of the case, including not removing biased judges, accepting questionable evidence, and ignoring the stage of evidence administration.

Zhupa accused the court of committing "the greatest shame of all constitutional trials" because the Butrint concession "took away our history, identity, heritage, culture, and roots." She also alleged that the AADF had the court "under its influence."

Why this matters: The controversy over the Butrint National Park concession and the Constitutional Court's decision highlights ongoing tensions between Albania's government and opposition parties. The case raises questions about the independence and impartiality of the country's judiciary and the potential for political influence in court rulings.

In response to the court's decision, Zhupa stated that the next step will be for the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution (SPAK) to investigate the alleged political capture of the Constitutional Court. She expressed gratitude to the 35 MPs who signed the request to repeal the law and to various public figures who have defended the cause.

Key Takeaways

• Constitutional Court rejected DP's request to repeal Butrint Park law.
• Court ruled AADF's management of park doesn't affect national identity.
• DP deputy Ina Zhupa accused court of political influence and bias.
• Zhupa alleged AADF had court "under its influence" and called it "greatest shame."
• Zhupa said SPAK will investigate alleged political capture of Constitutional Court.