TIRANA, Feb 23 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha on Monday blamed alleged corruption for the collapse of a road segment in Albania’s southeast, rejecting suggestions that bad weather or natural causes were to blame.
A section of road in the village of Dragostunjë, in southeastern municipality of Librazhd, gave way in recent days, affecting a bridge and nearby railway infrastructure.
Speaking at a news conference at his party’s headquarters in Tirana, Berisha said the incident was the result of illegal interventions in the riverbed rather than adverse weather conditions.
“What is happening in the southeast of the country is the most flagrant evidence of how corruption can affect a large share of citizens,” Berisha said, adding that the collapse was “entirely man-made.”
He said the erosion of the riverbed and embankment had undermined the bridge’s foundations, leading to the damage.
“These collapses have nothing to do with the weather or excessive loads, but are completely the result of human intervention,” he said.
Berisha also alleged that several other infrastructure projects carried out under the ruling Socialist Party majority had suffered structural failures, citing the Kuç-Ftertë road in the Vlora River area, segments in Korçë, the Burrel ring road and the Arbër Road. He described them as “works of corruption.”
He criticised what he called a lack of action by prosecutors.
“Not a single person has been arrested or put under investigation,” Berisha claimed.
Berisha further accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of excessive spending, saying Rama travelled to Korçë by helicopter at a cost of 30,000 euros. The opposition leader also urged citizens to protest against the government.
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