DP head of parliamentary group Gazment Bardhi issued strong accusations against the Albanian government, claiming that the 2024 budget is designed for personal enrichment rather than public welfare. Bardhi accused the government of using inflated infrastructure budgets for corrupt purposes.

Why is this important: Bardhi’s remarks highlight growing tensions between the opposition and the ruling Socialist Party over transparency and accountability in public spending. The accusations come as Parliament is debating Albania’s largest ever budget for 2025.

Context: Bardhi singled out two of the most important officials in the Socialist Party, Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku and Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj. While Veliaj has long been in the sights of the opposition that has organized almost weekly protests in front of Tirana City Hall since it lost the 2023 local elections, attacks on Balluku are a rather recent phenomenon. According to Bardhi “This is Belinda Balluku’s budget, which doubles the funds for three roads so she can line her pockets. It’s Erion Veliaj’s budget, designed for theft alongside his directors, half of whom are in prison. We will show Albanians that this is not their budget.”

Bardhi also accused Mayor Veliaj of mismanaging public funds and collaborating with a network of corrupt officials. He emphasized the need to expose these practices and claimed that the people of Albania deserve to know the truth about how their money is being spent. In recent weeks he has also gone accused Balluku of breaking the law through energy transactions and by inflating budgets for infrastructure projects.

Both officials will play key roles in the upcoming elections with Veliaj being a member of the triumvirate of Socialist leaders that will manage elections in Tirana, the largest electoral district. Balluku on the other hand is the direct opponent of Bardhi is the second largest electoral district of Fier. 

What else did he say: Bardhi also addressed the opposition’s participation in parliamentary sessions, countering claims that their return to parliament signals an end to civil disobedience. He argued that remaining engaged in parliamentary debates is crucial to holding the government accountable.

“We never left Parliament,” he said. “Leaving would mean abandoning civil disobedience and confrontation with the government. We will continue to react case by case and defend our rights whenever they are violated.”

He also affirmed the opposition’s commitment to being present in parliamentary commissions and plenary sessions to challenge the government. He emphasized that any obstruction by the ruling party will be met with resistance and reiterated that the opposition has learned from past mistakes, such as the 2019 parliamentary boycott.

Bardhi ended with a sharp rebuke of Prime Minister Edi Rama, calling him a coward who avoids direct confrontation. “Edi Rama is scared of facing us, a coward hiding behind Elisa,” he said.,