Democratic Party MP, Klevis Balliu, has denounced the "Smart City Albania" project, raising questions about the cost increase, the lack of competition in the selection of the company, and the potential risks to the security of citizens' data.

According to Balliu, the project, presented in April 2024 at a cost of about $60 million, has turned into a contract worth $118.5 million in less than a year. The Democratic MP claims that this cost increase has not been accompanied by a convincing technical or financial explanation from the government, while also raising questions about the manner in which the contract was concluded.

According to him, the US has raised suspicions about the contracting company Presight AI, part of the G42 group, for links to Chinese intelligence services.

"The contracting company, Presight AI, part of the G42 group, which has been the subject of repeated concerns by senior United States institutions for documented links to entities linked to the military and intelligence apparatus of the People's Republic of China. Two US Congressional committees have formally requested assessments and investigations into these links, considering them a matter of strategic importance for security," he said.

Another concern raised by him is related to the fact that the contract was concluded without an open competitive procedure.

statement

Edi Rama's government is placing another burden on the shoulders of Albanians, amounting to $118.5 million, for 'Smart City Albania', a project that raises serious questions about transparency, the administration of public funds, and national security.

In April 2024, the project was presented at a cost of about $60 million. Within less than a year, without any convincing technical or financial explanation and without any competition, the cost had increased to $118.5 million. Albanians are being asked to pay double the bill, while the government has not given any credible reason for this drastic cost increase.

Even more worrying is the fact that this contract was awarded without an open competitive procedure, bypassing the standards of transparency and competition required by Albanian legislation and the country's commitments to the European Union. When hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are distributed without competition and accountability, suspicions of abuse of public funds become inevitable.

The concern is not only financial. The project envisages the installation of over 5 smart cameras and advanced surveillance systems in the country's main cities, including schools. This means that millions of Albanian citizens' data will be processed by a system that is part of the state's critical infrastructure.

The contracting company, Presight AI, part of the G42 group, has been the subject of repeated concerns from senior US institutions over documented links to entities linked to the military and intelligence apparatus of the People's Republic of China. Two US Congressional committees have formally requested assessments and investigations into these links, considering them a matter of strategic importance to security.

Albania is a NATO member state and has clear obligations to protect its critical infrastructure and citizens' data. Faced with these concerns, the government has not made public any independent assessment of the risks to national security, nor has it clarified what guarantees exist for the protection of the data that will be collected by this system.

The Democratic Party, on behalf of Albanian citizens, demands to know why a $60 million project turned into a $118.5 million burden, why was competition bypassed, and what guarantees does the Albanian state have that citizens' data and national security will not be put at risk?

Public money, national security, and citizens' privacy cannot be treated as secret government matters. These issues require full transparency, institutional accountability, and political responsibility.

These are, among other things, demands that have been repeated every night for 69 days, including by citizen protests in front of the Prime Minister's office.

The Democratic Party stands with the citizens and their demands and identifies one and only one responsible party.

Rama, resign!