Demolitions in Theth hit only businesses, not homes, Rama insists

Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that the operation in the Theth tourist village removed only unauthorized business structures—restaurants, bars and hotels—built without permits, and spared private homes. Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha condemned the action as a “state crime,” asserting authorities destroyed every illegal building, including family guesthouses.

Why is this important: About 40 unlicensed structures were built in recent months in Theth’s protected valley, from wooden containers in front of the iconic Catholic church to multi-story cabins placed on concrete platforms. A complaint was filed by the police with the Shkodër prosecutor’s office, but Prosecutor Elsa Gjeli decided not to open an investigation, prompting the Justice Ministry to ask the High Council of Prosecution to investigate the role of the prosecutor in this affair. The episode exposes gaps in enforcement and tests Albania’s commitment to rule-of-law reforms.

Context: The clearance began with the removal of several timber cabins in the square before Theth’s church—the area’s iconic “postcard” frame. Villagers reported roughly 40 makeshift cabins built in recent months on concrete slabs beside the church; a development that caused outrage among Albanians. Rama accepted that the police and the Shkodër municipality share blame for permitting these buildings and not acting on time. He said crews acted only after inspectors pinpointed which structures lacked permits and stressed that none of the century-old stone homes used by locals were touched.

Rama rejected accusations from Theth’s parish priest that authorities had promised the legalization of the illegal business constructions in the runup to the May elections. “I was astonished that a man of God entered this story speaking of seduction and lies, as if we seduced people, deceived them and then broke our word,” Rama said. “We never broke our word with anyone. We went to Theth together with the mayor and promised to legalize all the old houses in Theth. We completed that process for about 300 houses. So, our promise was, ‘We will legalize your grandparents’ property.’ Our promise was not, ‘Give us your vote and build without permit.’”

He added, “All the buildings that were demolished down to the last stone were erected in the last few months.” Rama also dismissed claims that the demolitions paved the way for oligarch-backed resorts in Theth. “This is a protected zone! Contrary to what I heard [about the action being] about opening the door to oligarchs, even though we have no oligarchs in Albania, this is not about allowing construction or building tourist resorts [in Theth]. That is absolutely out of the question.”

Next steps: The Justice Ministry’s referral asks the High Council of Prosecution to determine whether Prosecutor Gjeli neglected her duties by classifying permanent cabins as “temporary containers” without foundations and therefore failing to act. The Council is expected to begin its review in September. Meanwhile, the National Territorial Inspectorate must submit a compliance plan within 30 days, and Rama has ordered audits of all protected-zone villages, vowing identical enforcement against any future illegal construction.