The opposition says Albania’s economy is in crisis, while the government said it is fairing better than the rest of Europe, showing growth in the middle of a global crisis.
TIRANA, Dec. 17 – Albania’s opposition and the government moved their political fight to the economic arena this week, each offering a different picture of the country’s economic situation. The opposition said Albania’s economy is in crisis, while the government said it is fairing better than the rest of Europe, showing growth in the middle of a global crisis.
The leader of the opposition Socialist Party, Edi Rama, said this week Albania has been led into a deep economic crisis by the current government, and things will get worse next year.
“There will a revelation of the full extend of the economic crisis in 2010. We have warned you about this for while, as has the International Monetary Fund, but these things have not been heard by [Prime Minister] Sali Berisha, who has hid the beginning of the crisis, billing the cost to Albanians,” Mr. Rama said.
The opposition accuses Mr. Berisha of adding to the consequences of crisis, by deepening public debt. Mr. Rama went on to say that the government is cooking the books to make it seem that the economy is growing.
“The real growth cycle has practically ended, but the figures are manipulated Šand the wrong economic model being followed is leading to an aggressive economic decline,” Mr. Rama told a gathering of his party.
But Finance Minister Ritvan Bode quickly offered a public rebuke of Mr. Rama’s comments on the economic situation in the country.
Mr. Bode said Albania’s economy made some progress in 2009, stressing the fact that Albania was among the few countries that did not see negative growth related to the global economic crisis.
“Their efforts to scare Albanians have failed,” Mr. Bode said, referring to the opposition. “People realize our model is working. The truth on economic developments in Albania is now known and made public not only by government sources but also from international institutions that assisted and continue to assist Albania,” Mr. Bode said.
The finance minister, speaking at a press conference, then went on to give some positive indicators of the current situation. He said the current inflation rate is moderate and the banking system is stable.
“Money markets, the banking system are now completely stable. The level of inflation is moderate within the target set by the Bank of Albania in December 2009 and it is the public commitment of the central bank and the government to keep it in that target, which is below 3 percent,” Mr. Bode said.
