Tensions flare in Parliament as infrastructure spending comes under fire

During a meeting of the Commission of Economy and Finance in the Albanian Parliament, tensions erupted over allegations of corruption and inflated costs in major infrastructure projects. Democratic Party (PD) Deputy Edmond Spaho accused Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku of mismanaging public funds, specifically pointing to the Thumanë-Kashar road and the Llogara Tunnel. The Deputy Prime Minister accused Spaho of lying and declared she will take him to court unless he withdraws the accusations.

Why is this important: The opposition has a history of repeating accusations of “golden roads” and inflated infrastructure costs but often fails to provide substantial evidence. This rhetoric has become a recurring strategy, but Socialist ministers, including Balluku and Prime Minister Edi Rama, have successfully defended themselves against such claims in court, winning multiple slander cases.

Context: Road infrastructure was a flagship promise of the DP’s last term in office and a key element of their 2013 campaign, boasting the construction of 10,000 kilometers of new roads. However, the reality revealed that the total amount of roads built was far short of that figure. The problem was further compounded by incomplete projects and insufficient funding. Under the Socialist administration, new roads have been built to stricter and higher standards, leading to higher.  Balluku, as one of the most influential figures in government and in the Socialist Party, has become a central focus of PD’s criticisms in recent weeks. Part of the reason for this could be that as political leader for the Fier District in the run up to the 2025 campaign – the second most important district after Tirana – she faces off against DP head of parliamentary group Gazment Bardhi. 

What was said: Spaho highlighted the €450 million price tag for the 21-kilometer Thumanë-Kashar road and alleged that the Llogara Tunnel tender process was manipulated, resulting in an additional €50 million cost. These two segments are among the most important infrastructure projects for the government. 

Balluku rejected these claims as baseless and warned Spaho that legal action would follow if he did not retract his statements. She emphasized the inaccuracies in his numbers and argued that the opposition’s accusations are politically motivated.

What’s next: The infrastructure debate is emblematic of the opposition’s focus on government spending and transparency. As Balluku remains in the spotlight, both sides are gearing up for continued political confrontations over public investment, with infrastructure costs serving as a key battleground.