Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku has missed the debates with Arben Ahmetaj about the economy. Many will think it's a joke, but this is what Tabaku said in an interview with the media when she was analyzing the political situation in the country.
"While Arben Ahmetaj was in power, in every session we debated the economy. It doesn't matter that the economy is in this situation today because of the government, but what is important is that the opposition will be there to demand accountability, to create transparency, but also to make its proposals. I believe a lot in the power of speech, in the power of debate, but also in parliament as an institution," said Tabaku.
It is rare in Albania for a female MP to praise an opposing colleague, when the latter is also considered one of the government's corrupt figures.
It is not known which debates the DP MP is referring to, but Arben Ahmetaj is remembered only for his statements in defense of the government's corrupt affairs. Even if Ahmetaj were one of the greatest economists in the country, the fact that he is currently on the run after being accused of corruption would have spared us this statement from Jorida Tabaku.
But to cheer up the Democratic MP a little, we are recalling a statement made by Ahmetaj in parliament when he was finance minister, stating that "the concessions will not be paid for by the citizens, but by the state budget."
"Concessions, as you refer to them, in healthcare. The state budget has taken on the cost of the service. This is a social measure, this is attention to the citizen and this measure is a fair measure. This is a service that should be paid for by the state budget. And for efficiency, it will have to be provided by an entity that could be state, it could also be private. But the essence is not who does it, but the essence is who pays for it and in this case the citizen does not pay, but the state budget pays for it", Ahmetaj expressed.
Citizens remember Ahmetaj for these statements and the fact that he is wanted for corruption. At the end of the day, if Ms. Tabaku knows Ahmetaj better and appreciates his “strength of debate”, perhaps it would be appropriate to share with us some of those essential public confrontations.
