{"id":25175,"date":"2021-11-15T12:24:44","date_gmt":"2021-11-15T11:24:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=25175"},"modified":"2021-11-15T12:31:31","modified_gmt":"2021-11-15T11:31:31","slug":"rama-and-basha-butt-heads-over-2022-budget-in-heated-plenary-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/rama-and-basha-butt-heads-over-2022-budget-in-heated-plenary-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Rama and Basha butt heads over 2022 Budget in heated plenary session"},"content":{"rendered":"

During this Monday\u2019s plenum, PM Edi Rama presented his draft budget before Socialist and Democratic MPs, calling it an intermediary budget that will help Albania overcome the two challenges it\u2019s currently faced with, as well as catapult us towards a new level of economic growth.<\/p>\n

According to the prime minister, the budget doesn\u2019t raise taxes for any category, all the while helping those in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are increasing wages through a dedicated bonus of up to 150% for employees of the police that work away from their place of residence. We are also doubling financial assistance for around 15 thousand families that have 3 or more children under 18. Through this budget, we are legitimizing 30 000 salaries for the oilmen of Fier, for the entire course of 2022, while we look for an alternative solution. $26 million dollars for the ongoing indexation of senior citizens as well as $36 million dollars for the end-of-the-year bonus,\u2019 \u2013 said Rama.<\/p>\n

In addition, Rama said that the government will continue to reimburse all medicine for more than 400 thousand citizens as well as fund vaccination.<\/p>\n

Democratic Party leader, Lulzim Basha began his speech by reiterating his accusations against Rama, in regards to corruption and the mismanagement of the Socialist-led administration.<\/p>\n

According to Basha, the Rama 3 administration only serves a small few, through abusive PPPs, public procurements, tender fraud, which is entirely focused on overspending and luxury.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are planning to spend 51.2 million euros on furnishing and d\u00e9cor, on cars, reconstruction of offices and state buildings,\u201d \u2013 argued Basha.<\/p>\n

\u201cFamilies find themselves in the suffocating hellhole of high prices, higher electricity bills, unaffordable fuel that affects every individual link of our economy. And instead of alleviating things, you are increasing the excise of 6 Lek for gas, which will make it even more difficult for families and enterprises to handle the oncoming winter,\u201d \u2013 warned Basha.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor you, debt isn\u2019t debt. It\u2019s a funding mechanism. For you, being stuck at a standstill isn\u2019t a standstill, it\u2019s progress. The concentration of economy into a small few isn\u2019t just monopolization and oligarchy, it\u2019s the very concept of competition,\u201d \u2013 said the DP chair.<\/p>\n

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