Albania’s 2025 budget faces opposition protests
Albania’s 2025 draft budget, the largest ever at 8.2 billion euro, is set for a marathon two-day parliamentary session on November 18-19. The opposition Democratic Party, which recently returned to Parliament after weeks of blockades and protests, has announced plans to mobilize supporters for a protest outside Parliament to oppose the budget’s approval.
Why is this important: The last time the opposition Democrats approved a budget was in 2012. It was half the size of the upcoming 2025 budget. However, Democrats argue that despite its size the 2025 budget fails to support vulnerable groups and the middle class. They have submitted two amendments to address these shortcoming: one proposing a special status for miners and another calling for the establishment of a living wage.
Context: Sali Berisha, the opposition leader, has expressed skepticism that the majority will accept the proposed amendments so he has called for a protest outside Parliament on the day of the budget vote. “The approval of this budget will be met with a powerful protest around Parliament. Citizens, pensioners, farmers, the unemployed, and small businesses—everyone who wants to raise their voice against the year’s biggest plundering, the looting of the budget in this Parliament of crime,” Berisha said.
Opposition’s economic promises: If they return to power, the Democrats pledge significant economic reforms, including:
- Flat tax rate of 9% to replace the current progressive tax system.
- Living wage of €200 and a minimum salary increase from 40,000 lekë to 50,000 lekë.
- Raising the average salary from 95,000 lekë to 120,000 lekë.
- Comprehensive wage reform to support economic growth and equity.
What next: The opposition’s chances of winning the 2025 election appear slim, allowing it to be generous with its promises. These proposals lack any accompanying financial plan, and the current protests seem more performative than well-thought-out political strategies. In a now-familiar pattern, the opposition is likely to continue protesting and disrupting the political process at any cost—until either the elections arrive or Sali Berisha’s legal troubles reach a critical point, whichever comes first.
Go deeper
Bank of Albania Governor, IMF mission discuss economic and financial developments
Published on November 14, 2024
Why is this important: The discussions are critical in understanding how Albania is navigating economic challenges, especially concerning inflation, monetary policy, and banking sector health. The IMF’s positive feedback underscores confidence in Albania’s financial governance.
In fitting finale, health concessions inquiry ends in chaos and accusations
Published on November 14, 2024
Why is this important: The chaos surrounding Beqja’s attempt to testify is emblematic of a commission that has devolved into a display of insults, physical altercations, and dysfunction. Despite shared blame among members, Commission Chairwoman Albana Vokshi has stood out for her confrontational and arrogant handling of proceedings. Her aggressive and discourteous style raises questions about the Democratic Party’s true intentions. If the opposition were genuinely committed to transparency on health concessions, they would have chosen a more measured and diplomatic chairperson. Vokshi’s behavior has turned the inquiry into a spectacle, undermining the commission’s original purpose.
Albanian rights central to talks between North Macedonia and Albania’s parliament speakers
Published on November 13, 2024
Why is this important: The meeting comes at a time when the rights and integration of Albanians in North Macedonia have been put into questions by the ruling majority. Speaker Spiropali highlighted that Albanians in North Macedonia play a vital role in governance and maintaining stability, stressing that respect for the Albanian language and acquired rights is key to North Macedonia’s path toward European Union membership.