FLASH
Shkruar nga Ylli Pata
Meanwhile, no alternative ideas for the ways the government has chosen to spend the money, especially in key sectors such as health, education, and the needy.
The annual budget is in any normal Western country the time when political parties wage the most fierce political war. In the US, this clash led to a 43-day government shutdown, while the opening has only occurred temporarily and only for some emergency services. In France, the budget caused the fall of the government, in Italy a fierce battle is being waged regarding taxes, budget spending, funds addressed to health and education.
And it is normal that public money that comes from citizens, who vote to elect the Assembly, is administered and controlled by all the political parties that voters have brought to Parliament.
In our country, the government has sent a budget to the Assembly, about which Edi Rama has been communicating with his constituents, but also citizens in general, for over two weeks. Of course, selecting the parts that he calls a political advantage. Rama has focused on the part of increasing pensions, salaries, or fiscal favors, which the majority considers a social asset of its own.
The budget, which has reached its highest revenue figure to date, receives all its money from customs duties, fiscal obligations, or even from money coming from international loans or grants.
In addition to revenues, the budget also has the other side of the coin; the way public money is spent. A budget law presents its items in detail, thus providing a broad and complete material for an exhaustive public debate.
Not only now, in fact, but throughout all these years that Edi Rama has been governing, apart from a specific show or television program dedicated to the economy, none of the dinner panels have bothered to debate the budget.
When in reality there is nothing more important or tangible for citizens than the money that will be spent by the government for the next year.
That vast table of data is so voluminous that it has a full subject for several months. Even, based on the calendar set out in the budget law, the deadlines given can be followed whether the government keeps its word or not. Thus, making it the indispensable watchdog against the government and the majority.
Of course, this requires a little more specific preparation, perhaps even from those with better knowledge of numbers and economics, but the debate would be productive and more tangible for citizens if conducted properly.
In fact, the panels are not at fault, as they take the agenda for the dinner debates from the politics of the day, namely from the agendas that the opposition puts out from its pulpit.
But so far, there has been no opposition idea regarding the budget, except for Jorida Tabaku, who has also treated it in terms of an adversarial debate with the prime minister.
Tabaku, on her social networks, has dealt with the issue that Edi Rama has focused on, namely the increase in salaries and pensions, trying to provide arguments against it. Ms. Tabaku has also addressed the issue of fiscal peace or the increase in the prices of everyday products for citizens.
Known as an economics specialist, Tabaku has the ability to take a more focused and thoughtful approach to the budget and has even done so in several television interviews, thus giving herself a positive input on her constructive and civic-minded CV of public behavior.
But in reality, this is not enough, as we are dealing with the pinnacle of politics, the debate about money, namely the politics of spending it, but also the collection of taxes.
When Edi Rama was in opposition, the issue of progressive taxation was so prevalent in the minds of the people and the media that it became the essence of the political battle. The DP, which did not even plan to elaborate on this issue, countered this battle with the explanation of the flat tax. Thus turning the debate in Albania into taxes and duties, as it happens in every Western country.
Meanwhile, for 13 years, this opposition has never fought for the budget, but only during elections does it pull the flat tax out of the refrigerator. It has become a scumbag, which even if melted in the microwave cannot be eaten with oil or vinegar because all its value has been lost.
Meanwhile, no alternative ideas for the ways the government has chosen to spend money, especially in key sectors such as health, education, and the needy. How is the majority dealing with the increase in food prices, which have made living impossible even if salaries or pensions increase.
This is the basic issue that concerns citizens, and a heated debate could even create a modification of the budget, thus bringing positive effects for them.
Why doesn't the opposition do this? Simply because none of its leaders are concerned about the spending of public money. Not only do they systematically benefit from public money through tenders or permits, but also because they don't know how much food costs, because they don't buy and have never bought directly in supermarkets. The shopping is done by the Sejm, and they have never had a problem with money.
Tema me interesante dhe e duhur per qytetaret. Keta duket sikur bejne politike, por ne fakt fshehin problemet ekonomike. Miratojne buxhetin dhe asnjehere nuk na tregojne me detaje se si formohet ai. Flitet vetem per tatime dhe taksa, por harojne te thone se sa gjaneron ne buxhet psh prona shteterore, apo te ardhurat nga pasurite natyrore: nafta, kromi etj. Pagat e pensionet do te rriten, por nuk thone se si nga kjo rritje e parase ne qarkullim do te parandalojne rritjen e çmimeve, apo do te justifikohen se çmimet i percakton tregu??!! Ka shume probleme te tilla qe duhet te trajtoje Fevziu dhe Duma, etj. dhe me kete rast te therasin specialistet e ekonomise dhe te lene te pushojne pak ata specialiste e perhershem dhe flasin per gjithçka...