New head of SPAK elected, Gonzato: The fight against crime and corruption is one of the key requirements for Albania’s EU membership

The High Prosecutorial Council (KLP) in Albania today elected the new head of the Special Prosecution Office Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), created by the justice reform, in a meeting that gathered as observers a large number of foreign diplomats.

The new head of the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) was elected Klodian Braho, who received 7 votes. Braho was chosen from among 4 candidates and will have a three-year mandate, replacing Altin Dumani in this position. Ranked second with three votes was Adnan Xholi, Elvin Gokaj received 1 vote, while Doloreza Musabelliu did not receive any votes.

The meeting was organized in the presence of the members of the High Prosecutorial Council, representatives from the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Justice, the Eu4Justice Project and the OPDAT Program as well as representatives of diplomatic missions, among them the Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy, Nancy Van Horn, and the EU ambassador, Silvio Gonzato.

The Ambassador of the European Union in Tirana, Silvio Gonzato, congratulated the new head of the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime, Klodian Braho, after his election to the post.

Gonzato, who closely followed the public hearings of the four candidates for the new head of SPAK, said after the conclusion of the process that SPAK has an essential role in the fight against organized crime and corruption.

“We have come here to show our support for the KLP in this task of theirs, but also to show our interest in the appointment procedure, for the reason that SPAK plays an essential role in the fight against organized crime and corruption and this is one of the key requirements for Albania’s membership in the EU,” said Gonzato.

“Yesterday I said that we are looking for a leader of this institution, of SPAK, who will continue its work, and we said that what we were looking for was a candidate who would have very high levels of independence, integrity, resilience at work, standards that have to do with the alignment of Albania with the EU,” continued Gonzato, referring to statements made a day earlier on the eve of the KLP meeting for the election of the new head of SPAK.

“I expect to work closely with him and his team in the months and years to come,” said the EU ambassador, Silvio Gonzato, congratulating Braho on the position.

The work of SPAK was praised in the European Commission’s progress report for Albania, where it is emphasized that SPAK has further consolidated positive results in the fight against high-level corruption and has made tangible progress towards creating a sustainable practice in the fight against corruption. (11 December)