Ex-Minister’s Criticism of Ruling Socialists: A Turning Point in Albania?

Elisa Spiropali was long and vocally dedicated to Albania’s governing Socialist Party – especially its leader, Prime Minister Edi Rama, who she once compared to Albania’s national hero, Skanderbeg.

“If we want the Albania that Skanderbeg dreamed about, there is only one man who can make it true,” she told a rally in 2019, referring to Rama. For years, this line has accompanied her, almost becoming part of her political identity.

As the Socialist Party won election after election since 2013, her position remained unshaken – until March this year, when the party prepared to vote on removing the immunity of former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Belinda Balluku, who is accused by prosecutors of interfering with public procurements.