Sali Berisha, the leader of Albania’s opposition and former prime minister, has accused the government of stealing €1.3 billion from Albanian taxpayers through the new Durrës Port project. Berisha, who heads the Democratic Party, is calling for a parliamentary inquiry to investigate the deal, claiming that Prime Minister Edi Rama is misusing public funds.
“We need an urgent parliamentary commission to look into this,” Berisha said. “This scandal goes beyond anything we’ve seen before. It’s like the bunkers built during Hoxha’s time all over again.”
The Durrës Port, a key part of Rama’s push to modernize Albania’s infrastructure and boost trade in the Mediterranean, has become a flashpoint in the country’s political debate. Berisha argues that it is another example of government corruption.
Berisha also vowed to continue civil disobedience until his demands are met, saying protests will spread from parliament to the streets.
“If Rama doesn’t set up a caretaker government, we won’t stop until the elections,” Berisha declared.
In response, Belinda Balluku, Albania’s Minister of Infrastructure, defended the project. She slammed the opposition’s accusations as “a war against Albania’s future” and emphasized that the port would benefit not just Albania, but also Kosovo and North Macedonia. Plans to build linked dry ports in Pristina and Skopje are part of the wider strategy to strengthen the region’s trade network.
“This project is crucial for Albania’s security and its role in the Mediterranean,” Balluku said.
As the debate over the Durrës Port continues, the issue is quickly becoming a major political battleground. With elections on the horizon, it’s clear this dispute over the port’s future will play a big part in shaping the country’s political landscape.
