Opposition says Albania not a low- tax country

TIRANA, June 30 – Albania’s main opposition Socialist Party, led by Tirana Mayor Edi Rama, last week refuted the government’s claim that the country has the lowest taxes in Europe.
At the same time, Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party said, while in Paris, that Albania’s flat tax system was a good basis for international business seeking to invest in Albania.
The Socialists, however, believe that the claims of having the lowest tax rate by Berisha is not true, also attacking him for having failed in the fight against corruption and tax evasion.
Also, Socialist Ilir Beqja said that oil prices in the country are much higher than in neighboring countries. The same is true of bread prices and electricity. He also tried to compare various economic measurements with those when the Socialists were in power through 2005, adding that the Democrats’ pledges have not been fulfilled after three years. (Tirana Times Staff)