TIRANA, Feb. 4 – The special parliamentary commission set up to investigate potential corruption into the construction of several waste incinerators across Albania has been granted a three-week extension, officials said.
The Parliamentary Committee on Rules and Procedures decided that the investigation should continue beyond its original deadline to make up for the time lost from vacations between two parliamentary sessions.
The decision overturned the ruling Socialist Party’s stance to end the opposition-led investigation, citing the three month period had run out on Jan. 28.
The special commission now plans to summon 28 witnesses tied to the construction of three incinerators at a cost of about 430 million euros. The witness list includes Prime Minister Edi Rama, Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, former ministers Shkëlqim Cani, Damian Gjiknuri and Lefter Koka, representatives of the municipalities of Tirana, Durrës, Elbasan and Fier, as well as administrators and environmental experts.
In addition to the parliamentary commission investigation, there is currently a criminal case being run by the Special Prosecution against Crime and Corruption – SPAK, which has led to the arrest of Koka, the former environment minister, who is accused of abuse of office and taking bribes tied to the incinerators.
The head of the investigative commission, Jorida Tabaku, took to Twitter to celebrate the extension and to publish a list of witnesses she plans to call to testify, with Prime Minister Rama on top.
“The Democratic Party has for six years denounced the incinerator affair. Behind the political shield, blocking and attacks, the commission today has returned to be law-based and rules-based. On Monday we start calling witnesses,” Tabaku said.
The decision was greeted as positive by the U.S. Embassy in Tirana and the EU Delegation.
“Strengthening democratic institutions and fighting corruption are U.S. priorities in Albania. We welcome the extension of the parliament commission on incinerators. We urge all relevant authorities & institutions to examine & take appropriate action. We will be watching this closely,” U.S. Ambassador Yuri Kim said on Twitter. “Accountability is key to democracy.”
EU Ambassador Luigi Soreca said it was important that the work of the special commission continues.
“Transparency and accountability are key EU principles. The fight against corruption is a top priority for the EU and for Albania on its integration path,” he wrote on Twitter.
SPAK believes former Environment Minister Koka, who is currently in jail awaiting trial, received about 3 million euros in bribes from two companies in return for giving them the concession contracts.
SPAK said it started the investigation after receiving official reports by two opposition parties, the Democratic Party (DP) and the Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), a year ago, it started an investigation on the procedure for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract for the construction and administration of the Elbasan incinerator.
Albania’s opposition has made public accusations about the incinerators for years, also accusing former Energy Minister Damian Gjiknuri, as well as current Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj of links to people directly tied to the incinerators and who are now wanted by police.
The Socialists have consistently denied allegations of abuse related to the incinerators. Prime Minister Rama and his ministers defended the projects and frequently visited their construction sites, praising the impact they have brought to the treatment of urban waste in Albania.
