TIRANA, April 23 /ATA/- By Maela Marini/ The Parliament rejected the request of the Democratic Party’s parliamentary group for a questions and answers session with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Andis Salla, regarding the IPARD funds.
At the start of the plenary session, the Speaker of Parliament, Niko Peleshi, argued that the request was rejected because it did not meet the legal conditions for holding the questions and answers session.
The Democratic Party’s parliamentary group submitted a request for an urgent questions and answers session with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. After reviewing the request, Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi announced it was rejected because it did not meet the legal requirements.
Parliament Speaker Niko Peleshi stated: “Under these circumstances, holding a questions and answers session on matters that are subject to investigation would undermine the constitutional principle of separation and balance of powers and pose a real risk of influencing the investigative process. Therefore, the request to hold such a session is not accepted.”
In response, Democratic Party MP Xhelal Mziu argued: “The request for a questions and answers session was not intended as political rhetoric but was directly related to the pressing concerns of the agricultural sector. An urgent solution is required, as the sector risks collapsing.”
“
According to Mziu, the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of Parliament stipulate that Parliament exercises oversight over the government, while the prosecution investigates individuals.
He stated: “These are two separate branches that do not infringe upon one another. You are deliberately conflating them in order to prevent the minister from responding. We have not sought to act as prosecutors, but rather as advocates for the chaotic situation currently facing agriculture.”
Democratic Party MP Xhelal Mziu warned that Albania’s agriculture sector has entered its sixth consecutive year of decline, a stark contrast to earlier periods when it contributed more than 20 percent of the country’s GDP.
/sm/
