Democratic Party Chairman Sali Berisha has unveiled his party’s economic program for the upcoming elections, emphasizing lower taxes and increased support for families in need, farmers, and businesses. Berisha criticized the ruling Socialist Party for neglecting these priorities in the state budget for next year, which he claims is double the size of the last budget his government produced in 2013.

Why is this important: This year’s budget stands at €8.2 billion, which Berisha himself acknowledges reflects a doubling of Albania’s GDP since his time in office, along with significant economic growth over the past 11 years under Socialist governance. However, Berisha argues that the Socialists have failed to allocate resources toward raising salaries, pensions, or supporting agriculture.

Context: Following Donald Trump’s victory in the November 5 U.S. presidential election, Berisha announced that his party would focus on economic issues, convinced that Albanian voters, like Americans, will back candidates promising lower taxes and higher wages. Key promises from Berisha’s economic plan include halving taxes, setting a minimum income at €200, a minimum wage of €500, fostering innovation and start-ups, offering subsidized loans for youth, a flat income tax rate of 9%, and a substantial—though unspecified—fund to support exports.

Socialist response: The Socialist Party has yet to release its full economic program but has hinted at reforms aimed at further economic growth. Prime Minister Edi Rama has indicated that tackling informality in the economy will be a top priority. This effort, he says, will help plug the long-standing pension fund deficit and allow for pension increases. Notably, average wages in Albania have reached €950, thanks to successive pay raises for public administration workers and essential sectors like education, healthcare, police, and the military over the past two years.