According to Berisha, “On May 11, the people of Mat will break free from a regime that has impoverished them in the most frightening way over the past 10 years.”

Berisha stated, “On May 11, the people of Mat, Albanians in Albania and abroad, will break free from the second greatest evil that has befallen them in 34 years, unlike any other nation in Europe and the world. They will break free from a regime that has devastated them more than any other occupation in our history.”

Berisha said, “They will break free from a regime that, in 10 years, caused Mati to have only 13 births in one year, while hundreds of birds from Mati are building nests in other lands.”

Berisha stated, “From 2007 to 2014, the population in Mati and across Albania grew on a year to year basis. It wasn’t that we had exceptionally high salaries or pensions, but one thing was certain: both salaries and pensions increased every year.”

Berisha further stated, “Since 2013, the average pension for Albanian retirees has risen from 143,000 lek to 172,000 lek. However, 57% of them do not receive a full pension; instead, they receive partial or reduced pensions,” Berisha said.
Berisha said that public funds were embezzled in the construction of roads.
Berisha criticized the road construction projects, claiming that massive thefts occurred during the process. He provided figures, noting that the Rruga e Kombit (Nation’s Road) project, which Bechtel considered one of the most challenging it had ever done, cost 10 million euros per kilometer, including the Kalimash tunnels. In contrast, the remaining 27 kilometers of Rruga e Arbrit, which are narrower, cost 11 million euros per kilometer.

Berisha said, “In 2012, we completed the Levan-Vlorë road. It is the widest road in Albania, 35 meters wide. It cost a total of 2.4 million euros. 2.4 million euros, while at the same time, the road near Limuth Bridge costs 20 million euros. The ring road costs 17 million euros.”

/j.p/sm/