Klodian Braho. Photo: Nensi Bogdani/BIRN.

Koldian Braho on Thursday was elected the new head of the Special Prosecution, SPAK, in a process that attracted significant attention at home and abroad.

SPAK was established to tackle corruption and organised crime amid a major justice reform process. Backed by the US and EU, it has gained a solid reputation for investigating senior officials and politicians.

Braho will be in the public spotlight as he will succeed Altin Dumani, who was elected head of the SPAK in December 2022 and was widely perceived as a prosecutor who broke Albania’s culture of impunity.

Asked about his strengths and weaknesses during his presentation, Braho responded: “As a strength, I would mention the fact that I have long experience in investigating criminal offences related to corruption. Since 2012, I have worked mainly and almost exclusively on corruption offences.”

Braho, 43, has worked as a prosecutor since 2007 and has been a SPAK prosecutor since 2019, when it was established. He was head of the corruption sector within SPAK and has been investigating former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj.

Talking about his life as a prosecutor, Braho noted that there is a constant need to be careful.

“Prosecutors cannot live a normal life like everyone else. I’m not saying that we stay only inside, but there are certain limitations we must respect, to the point that even when we go to a cafe, we check who owns the place,” he said.

Albania is an EU candidate state and its moves to tackle graft are constantly in the spotlight. Before the vote for such a crucial prosecutorial job, EU and US diplomats called for the process to be free, fair and independent, and also attended the vote at the High Prosecution Council on Thursday.

The four candidates competing were Braho, Adnan Xholi, Doloreza Musabelliu and Elvin Gokaj. Braho won seven votes out of 11; Xholi took three and Gokaj one.