The opposition Democratic Party said earlier that the winning bidder, Spanish company Air Tractor Europe S.L., had been involved in legal proceedings in Spain and called for the tender to be cancelled.

In a statement, the Ministry said all defence and security procurement procedures are carried out in accordance with Albanian law and based on the principles of legality, transparency, competition and equal treatment of economic operators.

The Ministry dismissed claims that the process was a “closed tender” or had been conducted in violation of legal requirements.

According to the Ministry, two companies participated in the bidding process. The winning bidder submitted the lowest-priced offer, while the second bidder was disqualified for failing to meet the required legal, economic and technical qualification criteria.

The Ministry also rejected allegations that the winning company, Aviation Trade Europe S.L., is barred from contracting with public administrations. It said the company had submitted a criminal record certificate confirming the absence of any criminal convictions and remains fully eligible to participate in public procurement procedures.

The Ministry noted that reports cited by critics relate to an ongoing court case in Spain for which no final ruling has been issued and which remains under review by Spain’s Supreme Court. As a result, it said, the case carries no legal effect and cannot serve as grounds for excluding the company from public tenders.

It added that the company continues to secure contracts with public authorities in NATO member states and other international partners, including the defence ministry of Cyprus and the interior ministry of Montenegro.

The Defence Ministry described the acquisition of aerial firefighting capabilities as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening civil protection, safeguarding lives and property, and improving environmental protection, reiterating its commitment to conducting all procurement procedures in accordance with the law and in the public interest.

/e.i/j.p/u.sh/

Balla was responding to Democratic Party (DP) lawmaker Oerd Bylykbashi, who cited the OSCE report on the May 11, 2025, vote, raising concerns about the use of public administration during the campaign.

“All political parties were given sufficient time to submit complaints, and the Electoral College found no evidence in any of the more than 40 appeals filed by the Democratic Party,” Balla said.

He added that previous claims regarding diaspora voting and alleged “patronage” had been investigated by Albania’s anti-corruption body, SPAK, with no violations found.

Balla also highlighted Albania’s EU accession prospects, saying the country could join the European Union alongside Montenegro.

“Albania has made unprecedented progress, achieving excellent results in public administration – higher than Montenegro, Serbia, and other countries in the process,” he said, stressing that the opposition’s role remains critical.

/a.f/r.e/u.sh/

PM Rama stated that in two years and nine months since promotional Air Albania aircraft started to be used by him, the cost of his trips abroad is less than half of the expenses of Berisha’s flights when he used to serve as the country’s Prime Minister.

The Premier responded again to the opposition’s claims over his alleged costly work trips on a commercial charter.

“In two years and nine months since the promotional Air Albania aircraft started to be used under a favorable deal with the national carrier Air Albania, the cost of my trips on the Albanian taxpayers is averagely less than half of the travel expenses incurred by the most disgraced slanderous in the history of Albania when he unfortunately served as Prime Minister,” PM Rama said.

The government head posted his travel expenses in 2020 and former PM Berisha’s expenses during 2012, when he was in office.

According to him, the travel expenses amounted to 226.893 lek in 2012, compared to 193.331 lek in 2020.

The PM considered the opposition’s accusations to be mere lies, while accusing them of receiving Russian money.

/m.m/u.sh/