TIRANA, July 4 – Despite last week’s announcement by Tirana’s Mayor Erion Veliaj that the government reached an agreement with the artists regarding plans to build a new National Theatre building as part of a high-rise complex in Tirana’s centre, the ruling Socialists approved on Thursday a bill paving the way to the demolition of the current theater building amid a tense parliamentary session with the opposition and a considerable number of artists strongly opposing the new project.
The bill was reviewed this week under an accelerated procedure after having become a hot topic during the past month.
The law envisages, Albanian-owned “Fusha Shpk” will build the new Theatre using its own funds and will be given public space around the National Theatre area to build high-rise complexes. An Albanian-owned company, Fusha has been involved in major projects in Tirana, including the reconstruction of the landmark Skanderbeg square, and is considered by the main opposition Democrats as a company with close ties to the government.
Last week, Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj said that under a deal reached with some of the actors protesting against the destruction of the old national theater building, the new building was not going to be part of a high-rise complex, but be constructed on its own territory and be three times bigger than the existing one and not affect taxpayers’ pockets.
The opposition, which has opposed this project from the beginning, considering it a robbery of public property, said during a hearing in Parliament that the draft-law violates at least seven constitutional provisions and contradicts three laws.
According to the government, the current building is completely inappropriate and construction is being trusted to a private firm due to lack of government funds.
However, the pre-selected announcement of the construction firm and lack of an open contest among other private firms, has raised doubts on the government’s initiative, and is one of the most contested aspects of the issue.
The opposition called the draft-law a “corrupt theft” and an “anti-national law,” while actors said they would lock themselves inside the building if push came to shove.
Earlier this week, main opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha started a petition asking the President not to decree the law approved by the ruling Socialists, claiming the almost 80-year-old national theater building is part of the country’s cultural heritage.
