On tonight’s RinOn, deputy minister of infrastructure Ilir Bejtja and Democrat MP Lefter Geshtenja faced questions from accounting graduate Eva Koltraka and IR graduate Ardiana Laska.

The opposition’s MP spoke of mismanagement and raised costs when it comes to building highways in Albania and accused the government of not having a concrete strategy nor a national plan on infrastructure.

On the other hand, the deputy minister said that the infrastructure development strategy encompasses concessions or PPPs, where private companies pay the costs.

But, MP Gështenja strongly opposed the argument claiming that with this practice, the government takes over investment risks, when it should be the opposite.

“The legislation on concessions defines clearly where it is based. Firstly, that the state transfers all risks to the private company, and secondly the inability to finance. Both are violated by the state. It is the government that takes the risks, and moreover, it even gives guarantees on the loan that the private company takes” he said.

Democrat MP maintained that a more inclusive national plan is required, one that also has the consensus of the opposition.