Democratic Party MP Enno Bozdo has accused the government of refusing to take measures to ease the economic burden on citizens, rejecting, according to him, three opposition legal initiatives aimed at reducing fuel and energy prices for families and businesses.

In a statement to the media, Bozdo stated that the government led by Edi Rama does not govern in the interest of citizens, but of a narrow circle of beneficiaries, while emphasizing that this situation, according to him, was also reflected in the vote against the initiatives proposed by the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party.

He said that the opposition's proposals envisaged reducing taxes on oil and diesel, reducing excise duty, and abolishing excise duty on domestically produced industrial gas. According to him, the adoption of these measures would bring a significant reduction in living and production costs. Bozdo claimed that, according to the opposition's calculations, the price of oil would be significantly lower, bringing monthly savings to Albanian families, while farmers and the manufacturing industry would benefit from reduced labor costs and increased competitiveness.

He also added that Albania continues to be ranked among the countries with the highest fuel prices, which according to him is negatively affecting the household economy and the production sector.
The Democrat MP also raised accusations about the management of revenues from VAT on fuel, claiming that in recent months alone, millions of additional euros have been collected, which, according to him, have not been used to support citizens. In conclusion, Bozdo called on the parliamentary majority to vote in favor of the opposition's initiatives in the plenary session, describing them as concrete and necessary measures to alleviate the cost of living crisis in the country.

declaration
Hello,
I have called this communication to the media on a fundamental issue that directly affects the daily lives of Albanian citizens, namely the economy. The government of Edi Rama, throughout these 13 years, has repeatedly proven that it does not govern for the citizens, but for a narrow circle of interests and beneficiaries close to it. This is no longer a perception, it is a repeated and confirmed fact.
This behavior was again displayed, in the clearest and most unacceptable way, during the last week, when the majority rejected three legal initiatives of the Democratic Party Parliamentary Group, initiatives that directly aimed to ease the economic burden on citizens at a time of deep crisis of rising prices. In fact, it was not a surprise at all. It is their usual model of governance.
They rejected proposals to reduce the price of oil by reducing the turnover tax and other taxes, to reduce the excise tax on oil and diesel, and to zero the gas excise tax for the “Made in Albania” manufacturing industry. All of these measures were rejected in parliamentary committees by the votes of socialist deputies.
Let me emphasize clearly: there is no surprise in this stance. But what citizens need to know is what they lost from this rejection:
• A liter of diesel today would be at least 350 old lek cheaper. In simple terms: for every 10 liters, citizens would save about 3500 old lek, or they would get about 3 liters more fuel;
• Industrial gas for domestic production would cost zero lek per kg, down from 125 lek/kg it costs today;
• Each Albanian family would save an average of about 70 euros per month;
• Farmers would have a real opportunity to work their land, while today, with the absurd price of 2200 lek per liter, this has become practically impossible;
• The manufacturing industry, especially the export industry, would reduce costs by up to 25%, becoming more competitive in both the domestic and export markets.
This is the reality. And what makes this situation even more difficult is the fact that Albania continues to be ranked among the countries with the highest fuel prices in the world, a policy that is destroying farmers and severely affecting the household and manufacturing economy.
The rejection of these initiatives is a purely political choice. It is the decision of a government that has no will to intervene in the protection of citizens. On the contrary, Edi Rama has chosen not to take any concrete measures to deal with the price crisis, leaving Albanian families and the domestic economy at the mercy of fate and the developments of the conflict in the Middle East.
We have another negative record: this is the only government in the region and in Europe that has not undertaken any real support package against the crisis. Meanwhile, it has benefited financially from the increase in prices. Over 10 million additional euros have been collected from VAT on fuel alone, for the months of March and April.
The question is simple: where did this money go?
Instead of being returned to citizens as direct support, they are channeled into dubious corrupt contracts and agreements or luxury spending. So, while citizens are impoverished and the economy is stagnant, the government is getting richer and refusing to share this burden with the people.
However, these three draft laws will be presented for a vote in tomorrow's plenary session. Our call is clear: the majority must overcome its political interests and vote in favor of the citizens.
These are not party proposals. They are not propaganda or unachievable ideas. They are concrete measures, proven in other countries, that provide immediate and tangible results for Albanian families, farmers, and producers.
It is time to choose: the interest of the citizens or the interest of a minority.
Thank you.