Evidence points to heavy clientelism in Rama’s public administration

TIRANA, Jan. 15 – Serious Crimes Prosecution Office investigations on former head of Prisons Arben Cuko which were made public on Monday by the Voice of America tore down the facade of public competitions by exposing how local officials, Socialist Party MPs and, in one case, even Prime Minister Edi Rama’s own cabinet, hamper a fair employment process by encouraging clientelism. Intercepts show how on April 30, 2018, Cuko received a phone call from Rama’s cabinet as requested by cabinet chief Vali Bizhga for one female’s employment. Under surveillance by the serious crimes prosecution, Cuko confirmed he had signed the…