Government says economy is growing and revenues are up. Opposition says economic situation is bleak.
TIRANA, Sept. 7 – Albania’s government and opposition clashed this week over differing economic visions for Albania. The government says the economy continues to grow, while the opposition says things are looking bleak and the government is to blame.
Finance Minister Ridvan Bode told a press conference that a growing economy had led to higher income for state coffers though higher collection of income taxes and customs fees.
Offering an analysis of the first eight months of 2010, Bode said the economy is stable and growing.
“The developments are encouraging and prove that the Albanian economy is growing at high rates,” he said.
He added that the opposition should not play with economic data as this is damaging for the country.
“I invite opposition to see the reality for what it is and to understand that the Albanian economy is already growing at its optimum pace,” Bode said, adding the opposition is having pipe dreams about an non-existent economic crisis.
Bode’s comments were directed at opposition leader Edi Rama who went on his own press conference to speak of a worsening economic crisis.
“There is growing unemployment in the country, and bad loans and public debt in the past eight years have doubled,” Rama said. He added there is little or no development in the country.
Rama also said the tourist season brought no increase in employment so the government cannot claim it as a success.
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha said the draft budget for 2011 will be “the largest budget in the history of the country,” where priority will be given to infrastructure investments in tourism and information technology.
It is not the first time that Albania’s ruling and opposition parties clash on their political forecasts for growth and prosperity, with the government usually trying to paint a completely rosy picture, while the opposition tries to make everything look bleak.
The finance minister’s point about an improving financial situation for the country is also a result of better performance in the administration of taxes and customs, he said.
Bode said that August is exceeded to see 102 percent of the planed income. He said the movement of goods this month shows a positive situation of the Albanian economy.
“During the month of August compared with same period last year, goods’ turnover increased by 11 percent, and this is proved it by the VAT receipts,” said Bode.
