TIRANA, Nov. 21 – Albania’s Parliamentary Mandate and Immunity Committee turned down a request from the main opposition Democratic Party to remove the MP mandate for Valentina Leskaj, a lawmaker with the left-wing Socialist Party. The request came on a conflict of interest charge.
The Democrats said Leskaj’s sons had earned a concession from the government, a move that is not legally allowed, according to the Democrats.
Leskaj’s sons lead a company which won a government concession for part of the Fier-Vlore railway line.
The Democratic Party complaint said her sons had signed contracts with the government, thus profiting from her position, something that runs counter to the constitution.
Leskaj’s lawyer said that was not true as the deal was reached with a foreign company and not directly with the government.
The lawyer said that her sons had no links with the government and had not profited anything from her public funds.
