New bill to allow investigations based on media reports

TIRANA, June 22 – The new bill on financial inspection will allow the Finance Minister to start investigations on alleged abuses even based on articles published in the media.
The novelty of the bill has found the consent of both the majority and opposition members of the parliamentary economy and finance committee.
Opposition Socialist Party lawmaker Arben Malaj said the finance minister has the right to launch a series of investigative initiatives on budget management fields even based on cases published in the media.
Meanwhile, ruling Democratic Party deputy Sherefedin Shehu said that evidence provided on print media or TV reports were enough to launch an investigation.
Both the main parties now seem to have found consensus on the financial inspection, drafted with the internationals’ assistance to strengthen the discipline of budget expenses.
The bill was initially opposed by the opposition which claimed government was trying to set up a parallel structure to the Supreme State Audit, an independent constitutional institution of economic and financial control.