Oct 30, 2024 – Jorida Tabaku, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Committee on European Affairs and a member of the Democratic Party, expressed deep concerns about corruption in Albania, referring to the country as a “captured state” . At the 18th session of the Albania-EU Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee, she noted that corruption has taken hold in both public and local administration.
Tabaku criticized the Albanian government for not having the political will to combat corruption, citing strong connections between political power, organized crime, and money laundering. She warned that the lack of international oversight has made the situation worse.
“The true wound of Albania can only be healed with political will,” Tabaku said, emphasizing that the government has ignored opposition efforts to address corruption. She highlighted that 80% of Albanians have encountered corruption firsthand, calling it a widespread issue across all institutions.
She pointed out that approximately 2.16% of Albania’s GDP is made up of dirty money, which she called unacceptable. Tabaku also criticized the management of public funds and favoritism toward certain sectors, citing controversial projects like the Vlorë airport and the Durrës port as examples of misallocation.
According to Tabaku, tens of millions of euros are lost each year due to corruption and contracts that benefit individuals linked to the government. She urged the government to take immediate action to tackle these problems and protect the interests of Albanian citizens.
