Berisha criticized the current leadership, saying they’ve turned Kamza and Albania into places people are fleeing, with over 1 million Albanians leaving for the EU between 2014 and 2023.

According to Berisha, citizens have grown poorer year after year over the past 12 years, while the prices of goods and essential food items have doubled.

He also touched on pensions, stating that the government has ignored, neglected, and humiliated Albania’s pensioners.

“A pensioner who in 2013 received an average pension of 143,000 lek was earning more than their peers in neighboring countries. But what’s the situation today? Today, a pensioner in Montenegro receives 450 euros, while a pensioner in Albania gets only 170 euros,” said Berisha.

“I pledge before you that within the first 100 days, no pensioner in Albania will receive less than 200 euros,” said Berisha, explaining that this is a promise that can be kept, just like the promise on wages was delivered in 2005.

“In 2005, we made a promise to double salaries, and I can tell you, it was the hardest promise of my life because I don’t know of any other administration at that time that would have dared to make such a commitment—but we fulfilled it,” said Berisha. “I challenge every Albanian: find a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, or a worker who will tell you their salary didn’t more than double between 2006 and 2013. Without exception, they all did.”

“How will we raise them now? Once again, through the same mechanism, we will give the money back to you,” concluded the Chairman of the Democratic Party.

/sm/