TIRANA, Oct. 20, 2022 – Albania’s main opposition party should promote protests that block key transportation infrastructure to get the government to lower fuel prices by lowering high taxes levied on them, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said Thursday.
“The opposition must block roads, ports, airports, and this will either reduce the price of oil, cut the tax in half, or there can be no more, oil cannot be turned into a whip for Albanian citizens,” Berisha told a televised meeting of party officials in Tirana. “It is government-made. No government in the world taxes fuel at 1.2 euros [per liter].”
Fuel in Albania has been among the most expensive in Europe for years as the government levies heavy taxes, which make up more than half the ultimate price, economy experts say.
Berisha said the fuel protests would be part of what he called “more creative forms of protest” to address the “scandals of the government”
“We are in battle with a fierce enemy of the vote and the finances of the Albanians,” Berisha added, referring to Prime Minister Edi Rama, who he said was “detached from reality” and is forcing Albanians to return to illegal migration in economic desperation.
“He has turned this into a raft nation, like in 1990-91,” Berisha said, referring to the increase of illegal migration from Albania to the United Kingdom using speed boats and rafts.
Berisha further dismissed the government’s denial of discussions taking place among EU officials to suspend visa-free arrangements between Albania and the EU due to increased illicit migration.
Citing “a growing number of irregular migrants entering the EU” via countries like Albania and Serbia, the Czech EU presidency warned in an internal memo dated Oct. 11, and leaked to the media, that a suspension might be necessary.
“Nationals from Turkey, Tunisia, India, Cuba and Burundi, in particular, enter legally (visa-free) by air in Serbia (and from some of these countries also in Albania) and a very high number moves irregularly further towards EU member states,” the memo noted. “These are unusual nationalities on the route and there is a risk of a growing trend.”
Moreover Berisha said Rama’s proposed golden passports scheme for wealthy foreigners, which is strongly opposed by the EU, would also jeopardize free travel for Albanians.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Rama called the issue of visa suspension “a rumor” propagated by a “non-grata” opposition.
Albania has enjoyed visa-free travel with most of the EU and several other European countries in the Schengen Area since 2011, when DP was in power, and the party says it marked the last major and truly tangible benefit to citizens in Albania’s EU integration process.
