The government "opens the bag", in the first three weeks of January almost 1 billion euros were spent

For investments made and services received but unpaid, along with court decisions from last year and goods purchased for these months... 96.7 billion lek have come out of the state treasury in less than three weeks, at the current exchange rate of almost 1 billion euros in less than three weeks.

"What I think are the specifics that have occurred in this period are the salary increase policies that necessarily give an additional obligation to the budgets of the relevant institutions. Those large infrastructure projects that have remained unpaid during 2024 and that are being paid off immediately now," Eduart Gjokutaj, an economic expert, tells A2 CNN.

Data from the Ministry of Finance shows that as of January 20, 35.4 billion lek, or 37 percent more money, had left the state treasury than in the same period a year earlier.

"On the other hand, the various subsidy policies, which are often within the framework of electoral goals that have already consumed themselves, have of course increased and brought expenses to these levels," says Gjokutaj.

For salaries, pensions, building roads, schools and water supply, managing waste or protecting against fires and floods, a budget of more than 822 billion lek is planned for this year. It is over 51 billion lek or 6.6 percent more than the 2024 budget and 87 percent larger than in 2014. But, despite being the largest in history, it could be spent quickly if things go at this pace.

"It is a finding that is based on those indicators that the economy is already reflecting. There is a fatigue in the economy that is coming as a result of expenses that are not being translated into assets, but are remaining as liabilities," says Gjokutaj.

The Albanian economy is perhaps going through “the best days ever”, but the government is looking to increase its debts. By March, the country is expected to go to foreign markets to borrow 600 million euros. The Ministry of Finance has initiated procedures for a law firm specialized in providing legal consultancy for the issuance of Eurobonds. (A2 Televizion)