Belinda Balluku

Sokol Balla

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​

(m. 2004;div. 2015)​

Belinda Balluku
Balluku in 2023
Deputy Prime Minister of Albania
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 July 2022 (2022-07-28)
Children	2
Signature

Belinda Balluku (born 9 October 1973) is an Albanian politician serving as Deputy Prime Minister of Albania since 2022 and as Minister of Infrastructure and Energy of Albania, under Prime Minister Edi Rama since 2019. ^{[1] [2]} She has also been a Member of the Parliament of Albania representing the District of Tirana since 2021.

Early and personal life

Balluku was born on 9 October 1973 in Tirana. ^[3] She stated in an interview that her family was persecuted during the Communist era of Albania and that her dad, Çlirim Balluk, worked in bitumen mines in Selenicë. ^[4] Her grandfather was Beqir Balluku, an early member of the communist movement in Albania and the Minister of People's Defence, who was executed in November 1975 for organizing a coup against the government. ^[5]

She graduated from the Athens Institute of Technology with degrees in law and business administration, and later on obtained a honorary master's degree in management from the International Air Transport Association's facilities in Miami. ^[6] She was previously director of the companies of Albcontrol, the National Air Traffic Agency, and was a senior member of the state-owned mobile telephone company Telecom Albania as the Director of Customer Care and later of marketing. ^[3] She is the ex-wife of journalist Sokol Balla. ^[7] She has two children: Colin and Belen. ^[3]

Political career

In 2004, Mrs. Balluku joined the staff of the Municipality of Tirana, initially as a Public Relations Advisor and later as Director of the Mayor's Cabinet. ^[8] During this period, she led the development of communication strategies with the public and the media. ^[8] In 2006 she formally joined the Socialist Party of Albania. ^[9] In 2019 she became Minister of Infrastructure and Energy in the cabinet of Edi Rama, and later in the 2021 Albanian parliamentary elections was elected to the Parliament of Albania for the District of Tirana. ^[9] In 2022 she announced that the ministry would attempt to implement a plan where citizens received scheduled energy in the case of emergencies. ^[9] She is the political leader of the Socialist Party in the Fier municipality. ^[10]

References

1. "Albania: New govt ministers sworn in, EU considers it an important moment". Independent Balkan News Agency. 17 January 2019. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
2. Jonuzaj, Klaudjo (17 January 2019). "Albania's parliament endorses government reshuffle". SeeNews. Archived from the original on 17 January 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
3. "CV-ja e Belinda Ballukut, e vetmja eksperiencë profesionale që përputhet me postin që i dha Rama". Politiko. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
4. ""Babai im s'ka qenë dakord me rrugëtimin tim në politikë" - Belinda Balluku: Familja ime ishte ndër më të persekutuarat, me mbi 110 vite burg dhe internime". Gazeta Tema. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
5. "Dokumenti sekret: Si u pushkatua gjyshi i ministres Belinda Balluku, fjalët e fundit para ekzekutimit". Gazeta Dita (in Albanian). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
6. "H.E. Belinda Balluku". Atlantic Council. 8 January 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
7. "Kush është Belinda Balluku? "Shtriga" e Ramës që ai e emëroi ministre të Infrastrukturës dhe Energjisë". Joq Albania. (in Albanian). 28 December 2018. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
8. "Belinda Balluku Minister". Infrastruktura. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
9. "Profile/ Belinda Bulluku the most 'superpowerful' in the Rama 3 cabinet". Vox News. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
10. "Belinda Balluku në çeljen e fushatës: Fieri ka një objektiv, 10 mandate deputetësh". Gazeta Koha Jonë (in Albanian). 12 April 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.