Opposition claims government increasing poverty

TIRANA, Dec. 16 – The main opposition Socialist Party on Wednesday harshly accused the government for the economic crisis engulfing the country.
The General Assembly, the leadership of the party, held a meeting to produce a resolution at the end.
Leader Edi Rama said that in 2010 the economic crisis will explode, starting with the higher electricity price decided this week.
He accused Prime Minister Sali Berisha of hiding the effects of the crisis and is increasing its levels with the expenditure during the electoral campaign not undertaking any preventive step. He urged the government to re-establish the agreement with the International Monetary Fund in order to get assistance on how to prevent a deeper crisis.
The opposition party said they had created a working group of experts on economy to draft measures needed to cope with the hiking electricity price, unemployment, poverty, fall of remittances, effects of the global financial crisis, stability of the local currency and other issues.
They urged the government to reconsider the 2010 budget, better behave with the business, lower taxation for 12-18 months, further lower lek interest rate, facility unfreezing of the liquidity, prevent further fall of the local currency, be transparent on expenditure, invite the IMF to sign another deal, make corrections on funding the local authorities and taxes on small businesses, make appropriate steps to promote foreign direct investment, reconsider electricity price and other steps.
The Socialists pledged to turn 2010 into a year of protests on the economic crisis.
The Socialists have not taken part at the parliament claiming there have been ‘deforming’ results from the June 28 parliamentary election. They want to open a considerable number of ballot boxes to recount the ballots, or have the government resign.
The government has denied the manipulation and has also said opening of the ballot boxes would break the laws following the verdicts of the legal authorities during the election process. They want the opposition to return to parliament to hold the debate.