A heated debate has taken place in the Committee on Culture and Tourism between the chairwoman of the committee, Democratic Party MP Ina Zhupa, and the Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation, Blendi Gonxhe, regarding the 4.3 million euro financing of Kanye West's concert in Tirana.
During the discussions, Gonxhe defended the government's decision, arguing that the fund was necessary to guarantee the event's development and to avoid penalties in case it failed.
"The event has been completed, it was successful from the point of view of logistics, date, time and participation. We have a completed event," the minister said.
On the other hand, Ina Zhupa considered the use of 4.3 million euros from the state budget for a concert unjustified, raising questions about the government's priorities.
"The event was going to happen because the Albanian state took care of it with 4.3 million euros. The question is why this money from Albanian citizens was given for this," Zhupa declared.
The Democratic MP also accused the majority of lacking parliamentary debate, as according to her, decisions are approved without discussion.
"You function like an army. We here take the time to discuss, we don't immediately give 4.3 million euros," she said.
Following the debate, Zhupa brought attention to the fire situation in the country and social problems, emphasizing that public funds should be used for citizen emergencies.
"If you knew Albania's problems, you would find it hard to ask for 4.3 million euros for a country that does not have a plane to put out fires, a country that asks for donations for medicine and where in some schools students still heat themselves with wood," she stated.
Gonxhe replied that he is familiar with the country's problems and that the debate should be based on facts.
"I have a lot of respect for you. You may be a political opponent, but you are not a voice of hypocrisy. Let's deal with objective things," the minister said.
The debate became even more tense when Zhupa insisted that the government's priorities should not be artistic events, but the emergencies that citizens face.
"The emergency is not Kanye West. The emergency is the fires and the troubles of Albanians," she emphasized, referring to the fire situation in several areas of the country, including Delvina.
The clash between the parties continued with procedural interventions by majority MPs, while discussions focused on the method of approving the fund and the use of public money for organizing the concert.
