Today, Prime Minister Edi Rama had his morning coffee with a group of grandparents in the garden of one of the revived playgrounds in Tirana. The pensioners asked the Prime Minister about the developments of the day, while Prime Minister listened with great interest to their opinions on issues related to many of the reforms that affect their daily lives, such as the wage and pension increase, economy, justice, etc.
The Vetting was one main object of discussion. The Prime Minister assured pensioners that the Vetting will be done, although the opposition is taking advantage of the compromise offered during the drafting of the reform in order to block it. “The Vetting must end. Calls for applications have been made. There are three lists, and according to the Constitution it is the IMO that should verify every application. Applicants have been given the required time to fill in the paperwork that is missing. Then they will be brought to parliament. We have offered the opposition a compromise which it is using to block the reform. They asked for 50% having 50% of the committees. The first committee is made up of 12 people, and the second of 6. The members of the committees cannot be elected, if they don’t attend. This is what we offered as a compromise, and which they are using to block. And international partners have figured this out, as both Americans and Germans have negotiated this compromise, and they are abusing this compromise with the government – which the opposition has never had in more than 20 years – and say that they won’t attend. But we won’t let this at the mercy of the tent. We will solve it step by step. And there is no question that they won’t block it. They will be given an answer on June 18, if they insist on this. And they know this, because the surveys have shown that 90% of the people want justice and want the Vetting.”
The resistance to the Vetting is big, because it is the most delicate part of the Justice Reform which will clean the justice system of abusers and corrupt people. “They’ve been allergic to Justice since ever. They’ve tried to postpone it, and the truth is that there would have been no reform without the very strong support of the Americans and of the Europeans. The problem is the Vetting, which is the most delicate part as it will uncover those who cannot prove the origin of their properties, of their 18 apartments which they say have received as a donation from their sisters-in-law, from their mothers-in-law. Everything will be verified, and if their statements will prove false, they will end up in jail for fraud.”
The Prime Minister said that the opposition is trying to displace its own crisis to the public life of the city. “If there really is a tense situation because people are against the reform and against the government, we can discuss that, but there is no tension with regard to this. This is a crisis displaced from SHQUP to the Boulevard. That’s all. Unfortunately, at the expenses of those who take the bus that crosses the Boulevard.”
Justice reform, Prime Minister Rama added, is of a crucial importance also in view of a faster economic growth. “How can we have a faster economic growth and increase employment, if we don’t receive more foreign investments in the sectors of oil, energy, mines and tourism?” The Prime Minister noted also that the increase in foreign investments is directly related to the functioning of a judicial system that provides justice.
“Does the majority have the votes to elect the President of the Republic?” – one pensioner asked. After explaining the parliamentary procedure to elect the head of state, the Prime Minister emphasized that, although the majority has the votes to elect the President in the first round, the aim will be to have a President elected by understanding and support.
The Prime Minister concluded saying that he welcomes any criticism, and although a lot has been done, there is still much to do, but it is important not to go back. “We have done a lot, there is still a lot to be done but it is important that we don’t waste time to go back. The important thing is to do good things regardless of the parties. Look at Tirana, for example. Both those who have the tent, have ruled Tirana. What did they do?”
“When we started all this, economy was 0 and now it is 3.5%”, the Prime Minister continued. “But economic growth has not been perceived properly by families. We did the largest wage increase ever. No government in these 25 years has allocated 100 million to increase salaries and pensions without increasing debt, and this is very important. Everybody will have an increased salary by the end of March. Wages of the employees of the lowest level have been increased by 36%. We cannot compete with Europe, but if we look at salaries in the region, we were below and now we have reached an average level. While in terms of the lowest salaries of the administration, we have reached a higher level. This is the result of the reforms, but there is still work to be done. I am convinced that the new program of investments will take economic growth to 5%. Then families will start to perceive it.”
