Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku analyzed in the “Weekend Corner” the three crises that, according to her, are weighing on the Albanian economy and families: the increase in the cost of living, emigration and the decline in production. Tabaku argued that these crises are the result of an economic model that favors a minority of companies and individuals affiliated with the government, while the vast majority of citizens face higher prices and taxes, but lower wages. “Albanian prices have been equalized to European ones. We have European prices, while wages are Albanian,” Tabaku declared. According to the Democratic MP, prices have increased by 22% over the last ten years, while wages have not followed the same pace. She gave as an example a family of four, which needs about 66 thousand lek per month to live, at a time when the average wage is estimated at about 73 thousand lek.
Tabaku opposed the government's propaganda about economic growth, stressing that it has not translated into well-being for citizens. "The growth of the gross domestic product has gone to a small group of people and a single industry. The Albanian economy is no longer producing. The growth is concentrated in construction and in 15 or 20 companies that receive tenders, concessions and building permits," she said.
The second crisis, according to Tabaku, is emigration. The departure of young Albanians and families has reduced consumption, savings and use of the banking system, directly affecting the lending of families and businesses. She stated that income coming from emigration is about 30% lower compared to a few years ago. The third crisis is related to the decline in production and the lack of a sustainable economic model. Tabaku pointed out the shrinking share of agriculture in the economy and the crisis in the tailoring sector, while accusing the government of having oriented development almost entirely towards construction. “We built a mortar and brick economy; a model that does not produce, does not export and does not recycle money in the construction sector. This model does not distribute income to citizens, but has created a minority economy,” she said.
The DP MP directly linked these developments to the protests and civic discontent. According to her, Albanians are seeking economic opportunities, meritocracy, competition and a better future for their children. “This is the system that has brought citizens to protest. While a minority benefits from the waived taxes, concessions, privileges and construction permits, 95% of citizens experience an economy of increased taxes, high prices and low wages,” Tabaku declared.
In conclusion, Tabaku stressed that the model established by the socialist government must change, so that the economy opens up to competition and Albania moves towards European integration. "This system must be dismantled. The only way to change it is to change the government and those who built it, brick by brick and favor by favor. Without dismantling this system of privileges, the path cannot be opened to either a European Albania or to young Albanians," Tabaku concluded.
The full speech of Jorida Tabaku
Every Albanian family that spends in supermarkets or neighborhood markets and buys products for the family table has noticed the extraordinary increase in prices.
Today, prices in Albania have caught up with European ones. Over the last ten years, prices have increased by 22%, while wages have not. They have only increased by 3 percentage points, the same as the inflation rate in these ten years.
Of the income of an Albanian family, 20% today goes to food. We have European prices, while salaries are Albanian. A family of four needs 66 thousand lek to live for a month, while the average salary is 73 thousand lek.
How can an Albanian family live and survive in this economic reality?
We hear the government every day promoting economic growth and the fact that today the GDP has also increased. But the increase in the gross domestic product, unfortunately, has gone to a small group of people and a single industry, because the Albanian economy is no longer productive.
Today, all the growth is focused solely on construction, with 15 or at most 20 companies receiving tenders, concessions and building permits. They are the ones who benefit and experience this economic growth, while 95% of Albanian citizens do not feel it either in their pockets or on their tables.
The second crisis of the Albanian economy is emigration.
This crisis, which brings lower consumption and investments, also comes as a result of the fact that Albanian families are being forced to take their children abroad, to seek more opportunities and because they do not find solutions here.
Emigration costs the Albanian economy also because the income coming from emigration is 30% lower than a few years ago. It also costs because these people no longer consume in Albania. This is felt in consumption and in the use of the Albanian banking system, but also in the lending of families and businesses.
The third crisis of the Albanian economy is, of course, related to production.
Today, the Albanian economy is an economy that no longer produces. It is an economy that has exhausted itself and that does not have an economic model or vision, because we did not know how to build a sustainable economy. We built an economy of mortar and bricks.
Meanwhile, agriculture, which was one of the main sectors, has dropped from 20% to 16% of gross domestic product.
Today, the Albanian economy is no longer supported by the fashion sector, which until yesterday produced and exported. A sector with around 175 thousand employees has lost almost 100 thousand employees, just as a result of the devaluation of the euro.
This is an economic model that does not produce or export, but simply recycles dirty money in the construction sector. It is an economic model that does not distribute income to everyone. It is a model that has exhausted, that has burdened the middle class and, on the other hand, has created a system and an economy of the few.
This is the system that people are protesting against in the streets today. This is the system that has brought citizens out in protest.
It is a system that favors those closest to it: it waives taxes, grants privileges, concessions, and building permits. It has empowered a small group of people, directing economic growth and benefits toward them.
Meanwhile, 95% of citizens experience an economy of increased taxes, high prices, and low wages.
Therefore, today, economic growth does not go to the citizens. The economic growth that exists on paper goes to a minority.
It is precisely for this reason that people have risen up and demanded more opportunities, meritocracy, economic openness, competition, and the best for their children.
These are the three crises of the Albanian economy. These are the three crises that have brought citizens to their feet. These are the three crises that require change.
This system must be dismantled. This system must be overthrown. This system must fall, so that economic opportunities can be created for all.
As long as this system and this Parliament grant favors through laws, raise cards to grant special privileges, and share concessions and public partnerships with a small group of people, the Albanian economy will continue to remain stagnant.
The only way to change this system is to change the government and change those who have built it brick by brick and favor by favor.
They have created a minority system, a system of privileges, which, without being dismantled, cannot pave the way for either a European Albania or for young Albanians to build their future here.
