The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, has declared that Albania cannot join the European Union with low pensions and political arrests. In a speech to residents of the Depo e Ujit area, he criticized the current government, emphasizing that the country is in a difficult economic and social situation. According to Berisha, the government has failed in the process of European integration, while the DP has been the political force that has taken concrete steps in this direction, such as NATO membership and visa liberalization.
"Albania cannot move towards the EU with pensioners receiving 140 euros, 150 euros. It is not moving. They also have this criterion. They do not announce it. But they also have this criterion. And, they are right. I give them full right. Albania cannot move towards the EU by exporting crime and criminality, by violating free elections. So, all these are just deceptions of Edi Rama. If there is a political force that has been proven to be serious and successful in the integration processes, this is the DP."
He stressed that 70% of prisoners in Albania are in detention and are suffering in inhumane conditions, which, according to him, contradicts European norms.
"The integration PD never imagines that it can integrate Albania as a place of political imprisonment and arrests. No, Albania can never be integrated as such a country. The PD never imagines that it can integrate Albania as a place of mass torture. Do you know, friends, that today in Albanian prisons 70% of the 6200 prisoners are in detention, they are unconvicted persons. In principle, the Constitution of Albania, the European Convention on Human Rights, the UN Charter, they are innocent. And they are kept there, in super inhuman conditions, real torture. No, Albania cannot move towards the EU in this way."
In the DP program, Berisha promised pension increases, reductions in energy and water prices, and fiscal incentives for businesses. He pledged that pensions would increase by 20% and a living wage of 200 euros would be established.
"We set the living wage at 200 euros. Absolutely, the first 3 months of our government. We will issue the Consumer Card. For every pensioner, pensions will be indexed twice. Initially, they will increase by 20%. We issue the Consumer Card. A pensioner cannot get the same medicines that the rest of us with high salaries get at the same price. No! He will get back 450 euros of VAT per year. We will put a bonus for each child in the salary. 70, 60 euros for the second. Full payment from birth to 23 years old for the third."
Berisha also accused the government of favoring oligarchs and corruption in major construction projects. He cited the case of a 20-story hotel in Tirana, claiming it was built with government-linked funds and should be confiscated.
In conclusion, he called on citizens to support the DP in the May 11 elections, promising a radical change in the country's economy and administration.
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