FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Police block the door of the Bulqiza Municipal Council, preventing residents from participating...
The exploits of the Mayor of Bulqiza, Festime Mjeshtri, are endless. Despite the opposition of the residents, the mayor, together with her advisors in the Municipal Council, have attempted to gather today to close the photovoltaic park deal.
The situation was further tense by the presence of numerous police forces, who prevented residents from entering the meeting hall. Meanwhile, right-wing councilors were also not allowed to enter, as the door to the hall was closed. They were informed that the meeting had been postponed to another day.
According to residents, this project directly violates the pastures that they have used for years for livestock, endangering their livelihoods.
Residents also claim that the project approval process was accompanied by irregularities, as signatures in support of the panels, according to them, were also collected from people who do not live there.
Property scandal
Documents published by the Public Procurement Agency show that on February 23, 2026, the Bulqizë Municipality held an auction for the use of 21 hectares in the village of Lubalesh. The contract was signed on March 9, 2026.
The initial value was 176 thousand lek per hectare per year, with a total of about 3.69 million lek. The winning bid resulted in 3,698,100 lek per year. Only one economic operator participated in the procedure.
The winner was announced as “Balla Energy Group” sh.pk, a company based in Bulqiza and owned by Artan Balla. The lack of competition is directly related to another fact: there was no public announcement on the official channels of the municipality or the Municipal Council about the opening of the auction.
The Law on Public Property Administration and the relevant decisions of the Council of Ministers require an open procedure, prior notification and transparency regarding the area, location and conditions of use. In this case, these elements are not publicly documented.
Lubalesh's case is not isolated. In October 2025, the Bulqiza Municipality held a 25-minute public hearing, attended mainly by the administration. At that meeting, a plan was presented to auction off 52 plots from the forest and pasture fund, in areas such as Ramnagorja, Luçan-Batër, Thekna, Klenja, Okshtuni and Zerqani.
The parcels were presented only with identification numbers, without data on the area, boundaries and current use. Residents requested detailed information and on-site consultation. This did not happen.
Also, in early 2026, the Municipality of Bulqizë held another auction for 85.9 hectares in the village of Melcu, Martanesh Administrative Unit. According to the Public Procurement Bulletin, the procedure was announced on December 31, 2025 and took place on January 26, 2026. Again, only one operator participated: “ALB-ML Solar Energy Investment” sh.pk, which was declared the winner with a bid of 11,467,600 lek per year.
The event at the City Council and the auction documents show the same pattern: non-participatory decision-making, minimally competitive procedures, and a lack of public notice.
Residents remain outside the hall. Lands are transferred to use for energy projects with a single bid. The local institution closes the physical door and the administrative process at the same time. /Pamphlet
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