{"id":31508,"date":"2022-02-15T17:02:03","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T16:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=31508"},"modified":"2022-02-15T17:30:54","modified_gmt":"2022-02-15T16:30:54","slug":"witnesses-take-stand-as-inquiry-on-incinerators-gets-underway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/witnesses-take-stand-as-inquiry-on-incinerators-gets-underway\/","title":{"rendered":"Witnesses take stand as inquiry on incinerators gets underway"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twenty-eight witnesses are set to take the stand to respond to various questions led by a special inquiry commission tasked to investigate a corruptive scheme involving three incinerators and government officials.<\/p>\n

The inquiry commission is composed of MPs from both the Socialist and Democrat camp in parliament.<\/p>\n

The commission has two weeks to submit a report on three waste incinerators, Tirana, Fier, and Elbasan.<\/p>\n

A ground investigation revealed that none of them was actually operating.<\/p>\n

The first to respond to questions made by MPs on these two days were the administrators of the sites.<\/p>\n

Based on their answers, the opposition concluded that the waste had been processed neither at the incinerators of Tirana nor in Fier, even though the money was paid for by the state budget.<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Edi Rama, Tirana mayor Erion Veliaj and several other high-level officials will also take the witness stand next week.<\/p>\n

After hearing all testimonies, the commission has until February 28 to compile a report that will be up for a vote in parliament.<\/p>\n

In Barometer\u2019s latest poll<\/a>, 42% of Albanians believe the government should resign if the concession proves to have been corrupt. Around 40% think the opposite \u2013 that the government, shouldn\u2019t in fact resign.<\/p>\n

\"Bar
Bar graph shows 42% of Albanians agree that government should resign if allegations on incinerators prove true<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bizarre salaries<\/strong><\/p>\n

Arenc Myrtezani, the director of the Fier incinerator, had received a \u20ac7,400 (900,000 Albanian Lek) paycheck in January but he was actually surprised when he heard this figure in front of the inquiry commission.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it seriously say there that my salary is \u20ac7,000? Go to the bank and confirm what\u2019s my salary\u201d, he demanded.<\/p>\n

But based on the January monthly paysheet, his salary was the highest in the company.<\/p>\n

While a drastic difference was noticed for the month of April when his salary had dropped to around \u20ac1,900.<\/p>\n

While debating with the chair of the commission, Myrtezani argues that his real salary is the one declared in April.<\/p>\n

But even if considering his salary in April, Myrtezani is the highest paid, surpassing that of the president of the company, too.<\/p>\n

The other employees are paid an average wage compared to those of other companies in Albania.<\/p>\n

The abnormal wages were only noted for the Fier incinerator. Meanwhile, the administrator of the Tirana administrator receives around \u20ac1,150.<\/p>\n

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