Albania – anti-corruption is moving forward

Sometimes there is some good news, coming from unlikely sources. In Albania the Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) has for the past few years, going forward and bringing cases and arresting former and present government officials. Because of this polling identifies that 76% of the Albanian population approve of its work. The Economist notes that “for the first time in Albania’s century of statehood, an independent anti-corruption unit is arresting politicians, officials and drug smugglers, apparently without fear or favour.” This recently also includes ever more of Albania’s elite, including senior officials of the governing Socialist Party, which has caught the Prime Minister by surprise.

Why should we care what’s going on in Albania? Because this is what an anti-corruption organization should be doing. It looks like no one likes SPAK and that in and of itself is high praise, since corruption is not the work of one group, but usually, unfortunately, cuts across the parties in power and out of power. And, with the high approval ratings, this reminds people that anti-corruption work is transparent and visible, and it is going after a perceived culture of impunity. This is a good reminder of what we hope for when looking at anti-corruption agencies, and we all hope that this will continue as successfully as it seems to be at present.

Link:

https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/08/07/albanias-new-anti-corruption-unit-is-taking-down-bigwigs