| Welcome to the weekend issue of Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Join us on Saturdays for deeper dives from our bureaus across Europe. TIRANA — Weeks before a national election, Albania's political landscape was shaken with last month's arrest of Erion Veliaj, the mayor of the capital Tirana. Long considered a close ally and potential successor of the country's powerful prime minister, Edi Rama, Veliaj was ensnared by allegations of public contracts funneled to associates and spending hundreds of thousands of euros on luxury goods. The corruption probe could end the political career of Veliaj, who has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, ahead of Albania's parliamentary vote in May.  Erion Veliaj is escorted out of his office following his arrest in Tirana. Source: AFP/Getty Images Driving the investigation is the Special Prosecution Office, a body backed by the US and the European Union to battle endemic corruption in the Adriatic nation – and the centerpiece of Albania's aspirations to join the EU. SPAK, as its known, has forged ahead with its mandate to dismantle corrupt structures and organized crime networks that have long shaped Albania's political and economic system. Rama, who aims to make EU accession the foundation of his legacy, has long championed SPAK's work. But since judicial scrutiny has turned to a close associate, his tone has shifted. Even as he insists his Socialist Party won't interfere, he's issued accusations against prosecutors for overstepping their bounds and acting without accountability, dismissing Veliaj's indictment as a "400-page novel." Given the stakes involved with Albania's standing in the West, Rama is showing no sign of moderating his attacks. In recent days, he's lashed out at SPAK — at one point he could be seen in a now-viral video pounding his fists – and issued a warning not to direct the probe at himself. "This is very serious! Very serious! Very serious!" he told lawmakers at a party meeting. "They better not make the mistake of coming to ask for my phone, because they already have enough."  Edi Rama Photographer: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images Rama's Socialists have fully aligned behind Veliaj, framing the case as an attempt to weaken the government ahead of the May 11 ballot. Party officials have echoed Rama's criticism of SPAK, arguing that investigations disproportionately target ruling party figures while ignoring others. Opposition parties have seized on the scandal, saying it lays bare the corruption within the Socialist ranks. The EU meanwhile has reaffirmed its support for SPAK as an anchor of Albania's path into the 27-member bloc. "The justice reform and the establishment of SPAK are a cornerstone of Albania's accession to the EU," the EU delegation in Albania said this week. SPAK chief Altin Dumani rejected claims of political motivation, saying those acting in accord with the constitution "have nothing to fear." Instead, he signaled the probe could expand, noting that SPAK has jurisdiction over electoral crimes. That could prompt further escalation – and more trouble for Albania in its bid to join the EU. — Gresa Kraja, Albania and Kosovo reporter | 
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