News analysis: Already in campaign mode, political leaders pin hopes on promises of public spending, tax cuts

By Urita Dokle TIRANA, Feb. 16 – The electoral campaign period officially starts one month ahead of the June 18 parliamentary elections, but most political leaders are already on the campaign trail with a steady flow of promises, mostly having to do with public spending or tax cuts. Central and local government officials are attending many openings and inauguration of projects, while promising many more to come. This week, there was a presentation of the plan for the construction of 17 new schools in Tirana, part of the government’s ambitious 1 billion dollars plan, which aims to revive the country’s…