In Albania, the opposition says that it will accept to collaborate with the government after the local government elections only if the latter meets several conditions that aim at relaxing the austerity measures imposed upon the citizens.
Democrat leader, Lulzim Basha said today that “there will be collaboration with the government after the elections only if it [government] accepts the platform for the reduction of the price of energy and fuel, the pardoning of late payment charges and the reduction of taxes”.
Mr. Basha suggests that in the past two years, the left wing government has not delivered the promises through which it came in power, but “has sunk the country in poverty, unemployment and misery”.
“In two years, they have done the opposite of what they promised to come into power. They increased taxes, the price of energy, fuel, etc. After they failed to deliver any promise, Mr. Basha said, they refused the DP amendments for the reduction of taxes, the price of electricity, etc.”
The leader of opposition referred to the amendment for the reduction of VAT on electricity from 20 to 6%, “in order for Albanian households to pay less for electricity, they rejected our amendment for the rise of wages and pensions”.
The government rejected this request, although it was the main card in its electoral program.
Another proposal which was not accepted by the government relates to the employment of youth. The opposition suggested the lifting of taxes for those businesses that employ young people, for at least a year.
“If they accept our platform for the reduction of the electricity price by 25% and the pardoning of late payment charges on electricity and water around Albania, for the reduction of taxes at the lowest level in the Balkan, 9%, for the increase of wages and pensions beyond inflation indexation, for the funding of discriminated sectors such as agriculture, tourism, to encourage the employment of youngsters through a regime that enables businesses to open new jobs for the youth, we’re ready to collaborate because for us, service to the citizens is more important than power”, Basha said.
Source: http://www.balkaneu.com/opposition-imposes-conditions-cooperation-govern...
