"You will have the fate of Arben Ahmetaj"/ Incinerators clash with Malaj and Tabaku

2025-11-19 17:54:00, Politikë CNA

"You will have the fate of Arben Ahmetaj"/ Incinerators clash with

Democratic MP Jorida Tabaku clashed with Finance Minister Petrit Malaj today in the plenary session of the Parliament.

During the speech on the draft budget, the debate between them continued, as Tabaku emphasized the high cost to the state budget for incinerators.

Tabak told Malaj that he would have the same fate as Arben Ahmetaj.

For his part, Malaj has provided figures for the much-discussed cost.

Jorida Tabaku: First, Mr. Minister, with "You" address those who put you in the job, not me. For you, I am Mrs. Tabaku. Secondly, when you learn to read the State Budget, because perhaps you did not understand it, you will see where the incinerators are, where the cost for waste management is. You are new in office, you are the 12th minister who has passed through there because you have a long career. Many have left, you will leave too.

But, you must understand that today the incinerator issue, which is being investigated and I very much hope to bring to justice all those involved, starting with the Prime Minister, is causing a cost to the state budget, which for Tirana alone is 339 million euros.

That's what Arben Ahmetaj used to say, he said zero and you see where it is. You will have his way. Secondly, in terms of prices, but also in terms of prices and living costs, 20% of EU prices were prices in 2012, today they are 92% of EU prices. 40% are today food expenses, 55% of Albanian families cannot close the month, these are your data, whether you like it or not.

Every finance minister should have been concerned about these data and not come here and laugh at the poverty of Albanians. I understand the difficulty the government has today in bringing a budget for the citizens, but to come out and deceive here with fiscal peace, with the repayment of debts that were made for government clients and to say that it is for Albanian citizens, this is not complete incompetence, but corruption.

Petrit Malaj: With respect to the Albanian citizens, regarding the issue of economic growth, this was not said by the Albanian government, but was said just a few days ago by the IMF, that the Albanian economy is experiencing the highest growth compared to all European countries. Regarding the issue of incinerators, honorable MP Tabaku, I believe you have before you the list of where the 1 billion lek related to urban waste management has gone.

There are 1 billion lek that are distributed to over 41 municipalities for the management of urban waste. How you manage to connect the incinerators with the money that goes to urban waste management, only you can do this. What connection does Malësia e Madhe have with the incinerator, only you can do. Regarding the income of Albanians, in 2013, the per capita income of Albanians was at least 30% of the average per capita income in the Western Balkans.

As we speak, in 2025, the per capita income of Albanians is over 20% of the average per capita income in the Western Balkans. These are figures that the government does not say, but are published by the World Bank, the IMF, reports that you refer to time and time again, so you will also have to enrich this information correctly as stated in those international institutions . /CNA