Berisha projects his own legacy of in-law politics onto SPAK

Sali Berisha has claimed that a cousin of SPAK Chief Prosecutor Altin Dumani’s wife once worked at Tirana City Hall. He is using this tenuous connection to argue that Dumani is failing to thoroughly investigate Mayor Erion Veliaj. To support his claims, Berisha even went so far as to publish a picture of Dumani’s wife alongside her cousin.

While this claim raises countless troubling questions, the focus shouldn’t be on Berisha’s accusations or their lack of truth. Not only is Mayor Veliaj and his family already under investigation, but Veliaj himself has complained that prosecutors have overstepped legal boundaries in their pursuit. The real issue is why Berisha is so eager to tie Dumani’s family circle to SPAK, suggesting that they are protecting Veliaj.

To be clear, anyone attempting to find conflicts of interest in SPAK would be better off looking at professional or financial connections rather than distant family ties. The problem with SPAK is not that such connections don’t exist—it’s that the institution’s prosecutors have a reputation for rejecting interference, a fact broadly recognized by the public.

So why does Berisha fixate on a cousin of Dumani’s wife? To understand, one must examine how Berisha’s logic works. He appears convinced that the person in the photo is relevant because two conditions are met: they are related to Dumani’s wife and they worked in a public institution.

Nevertheless, these factors reveal more about Berisha than about Dumani. For Berisha, in-laws hold immense significance. During his time in power, Berisha’s wife’s relatives benefitted enormously from his influence. They formed the foundation of his political power. This extended far beyond first cousins—even distant relatives were elevated through his patronage.

Berisha’s wife acted as an intermediary, using her family network to distribute power and resources. Her influence even extended to her Serbian maternal relatives. For example, the first five directors Berisha appointed after coming to power in 2005 all had Serbian grandmothers, underscoring the extent of his wife's sway.

Given this context, it’s unsurprising that Berisha believes Dumani’s wife might wield similar influence. For Berisha, this is a reflection of his own experience, where familial ties dictated power and appointments. However, the idea that a former city hall employee could influence SPAK is absurd unless viewed through Berisha’s personal history.

Rather than criticizing Berisha, it’s worth reflecting on what Albania has been spared now that he no longer holds significant power. His logic and practices, rooted in tribalism and nepotism, are relics of a past that Albania must continue to move beyond.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "Mos e fajësoni pse nxjerr në foto gruan e Dumanit"