“Corruption is the underlying cause of the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, money laundering, the mass emigration of young people, and the growing despair among citizens,” Tabaku stated.

The DP MP reminds that she has proposed a series of legal initiatives and a tailored anti-corruption package over the years, but emphasizes that legal reforms, however necessary, are not sufficient when there is a lack of political will and when corruption has been entrenched in the system.
“The issue does not just lie with the laws, but with the government approach and the governance model that creates and perpetuates corruption,” she stated.

She cites the law on concessions and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as a concrete example, noting that despite amendments made from 2017 to 2023, it has continued to present the same problems.

“Cases like the incinerators, road concessions, the energy sector, and scandals within AKSHI show that even a well-crafted law, based on European standards, cannot root out corruption as long as it is embedded within the system,” said Tabaku.

In conclusion, Tabaku stresses that genuine change requires more than legal reforms or national strategies: it demands a fundamental shift in the system and the renewal of political will to tackle corruption.

“Only such a change can free the economy from capture, restore citizens’ trust, and open up prospects for the country’s future,” she said.
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In her remarks, Tabaku underscored the toll corruption has taken on pensioners and workers, who are financially struggling due to soaring living costs and inadequate wages that fail to meet even basic needs. She pointed out that pensions are inadequate for a dignified life, while wages in the private sector remain stagnant due to a corrupt system that benefits only a small group of oligarchs.

“Albanian pensioners buy bread at European prices, but receive Albanian pensions. This is a direct consequence of corruption that has stifled the economy. At the same time, the private sector cannot raise wages for employees because every tender, every procurement, and every concession are controlled by a group of individuals,” said Tabaku.

Tabaku emphasized that corruption, which is rife at every level of the system, has become the root cause of poverty among the Albanian families. She pointed out that the majority has built a system using power to protect close interests, while citizens suffer the consequences of an economy dominated by monopolists and abuses.

She said, “This corrupt system not only has an economic cost for the Albanian people, but also a social cost. We are losing the trust of the citizens and dashing hope for a better future.”

Tabaku warned that corruption has not only affected the Albanian economy, but has also ruined the citizens’ hope of building a better life in their own country. She called for urgent reforms that would ensure a fair distribution of income and an increase in pensions and wages.

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