“Meta, culture of impunity”

Deutsche Welle makes a direct analyze on what is happening with the Albanian justice, based on the most recent controversial case of the former Deputy Prime Minister, Ilir Meta.

The trial that found Ilir Meta not guilty is the focus of the article, starting from the moment when the video scandal was made public, and to one year ago, when Meta was released from corruption and power abuse charges by the court.

“The observers considered the sentence as disappointing, although it was expected. The Albanians see their government as a pathological patronage system”, says the expert for Balkan matters, Norbert Mapes-Niediek.

“They do not trust that the court’s actions are based on law. Last January, four people were killed in the anti-corruption protest, encouraged by Meta’s video”, Deutsche Welle reminds.

Meta is described by the article as an enigmatic player in the Albanian political scene. By the end of the 90s, when he was only 30 years old, Meta became Prime Minister and then served in some important government functions, such as Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy.

After analyzing Meta’s political situation, the article stops on the judicial system, with a title that says “trial’s irregularities”.

“Meta’s victory shows the fact that the neutrality of the judicial system in the country deserves to be questioned. The core of the case was if the vide registration should be accepted as evidence”, says Mapes-Niediek.

While the real question, according to him, is why to ministers, central figures of the Albanian politics are able to sit and decide who will receive the contracts.

The expert doesn’t exclude Meta’s return in another governing post.

“The trial ended, but many questions remain without an answer”, Deutsche Welle writes.

“Until now, none of the politicians accused of corruption have ever been sentenced. In every case, the judicial procedures against them have been blocked for lack of evidence or have been postponed”.

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