After 9 hours of debate, the Assembly approved two important draft laws shortly after midnight. The extension of the profit tax exemption for luxury 4- and 5-star hotels, as well as the postponement of the deadline for applying for strategic investments until December 31, 2026, received the green light in the Assembly, writes A2 CNN.
Without the participation of the opposition in the vote, with 73 votes in favor and against MP Bujar Leskaj who was the only one present, the draft law on strategic investments proposed by MP Pranvera Resulaj was approved. While the extension of the deadline for luxury hotels that have signed a contract with one of the international brands and have benefited from the special status will operate tax-free for 10 years, was voted with 68 votes in favor, against MP Bujar Leskaj and abstained Pandeli Majko, Erjon Brace and Petro Koci.
"I propose extending the deadline. It comes after several proposals. It has happened that we do not have an integrated law on foreign and strategic investments. In order not to create a legal vacuum for projects in the process. It is thought to go to 6.2 billion euros and 30 thousand employees," said MP Pranvera Resulaj.
"We called this project the power of 5 stars, it is possible that by setting these standards, other companies can also manage with these levels. So out of 11 companies that continue to operate 5-star hotels, 11 others have chosen to acquire an international brand with 5 or 4 stars. Two years are required to compensate for the 2 years that were lost during the pandemic period," said Blendi Klosi.
For Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku, this bill favors oligarchs. "This is not a state, this is a club of the privileged. This is not a package for the development of Albania. This is an anti-Albania package; a package that favors oligarchs and leaves the majority of Albanians in poverty; a package that strengthens the monopoly of a minority, while the majority struggles for survival; a package that destroys competition and prevents honest Albanians from moving forward," she said.
Only 11 hotels, which have contracts with international brands, have received this benefit from these laws so far. According to the draft law, the profits by 2030 will be 2.7 billion euros for projects that have received development permits.
(A2 Televizion)
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