Here's who replaces Sali Berisha after June 20, how will "non-women" be kicked out of politics after a 6-month absence from the Assembly

Sali Berisha, declared "non-women" by the United States of America and Great Britain, can be a member of parliament for at least 4 days. After June 20, the Mandates Commission is expected to announce the replacement, as a result of the failure to fulfill the function of the parliamentarian. If Berisha's mandate expires, Lediana Frataj can take his place according to the list. If she does not accept the mandate within 30 days, the seat of deputy will pass to the next name on the list. Today, not only MPs from the Pulpit, but also socialists have spoken out that Berisha cannot be expelled as his absence is "reasonable". Yes, the Parliament has already given signals that it will not consider this absence as a reason. Specifically, the administration of the Parliament of Albania cut off Berisha's financial benefits to which every MP is entitled, including his salary, since the former prime minister did not participate in any of the plenary sessions, meetings of the Parliamentary Committees or any other activity related to him as legislator. The decision to stop payments is related to the decision of GJKKO. The financial measure against Berisha by the administration of the Assembly has been applied since January 2024, perhaps as a calculation for the time when he may lose the mandate of the deputy, with an absence in the work of the Assembly of 6 months. "Referring to the status of deputies and decision no. 114/2014 "On the treatment of MPs", as amended MP Sali Berisha is not paid benefits such as fuel and telephone due to the personal insurance measure imposed by the Special Court of First Instance for Corruption and Organized Crime, with decision no. 520 dated 30.12.2023". This was the first financial suspension that was applied by the Assembly to former Prime Minister Berisha.

What awaits Berisha?

Berisha has no more time and this week he completes the full time of his absence in the Assembly, which means that the procedure of losing the deputy's mandate begins. "The mandate of the deputy begins on the day he is declared elected by the relevant election commission. 2. The mandate of the deputy ends or is invalid, as the case may be: a) when he does not take the oath; b) when resigning from the mandate; c) when one of the conditions of ineligibility or incompatibility provided for in articles 69, 70 paragraphs 2 and 3 is proven; ç) when the mandate of the Assembly ends; d) when absent without reason for more than 6 consecutive months in the Assembly; dh) when he is punished by a final court decision for committing a crime", it is stated in Article 71 of the Constitution.

What happened?

We remind you that Sali Berisha has been under "house arrest" since December 30, the day when the judge of GJKKO, Irena Gjoka, signed the decision to apply the measure of "house arrest" to the former Prime Minister, while previously he had strongly opposed two of the measures imposed by SPAK, obligation to appear and ban on leaving the country. Berisha claimed that the measures were unconstitutional, since SPAK had not previously received permission from the Assembly to limit his activity as a deputy. And after SPAK requested authorization from the Assembly, which was approved, the Special Prosecutor's Office decided to apply a more coercive measure, that of house arrest, which has been upheld by all levels of justice, including the Supreme Court. SPAK is investigating the procedures followed for the privatization of the former "Partizani" complex, while initially arresting the son-in-law of former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Jamarbër Malltezi, for whom the GJKKO Appeal decided to change the security measure from "arrest to prison " as the judge Irena Gjoka had signed, under "house arrest". SPAK is investigating Berisha and Malltez for criminal offenses related to money laundering and corruption, committed in cooperation.