Speaking at the start of his Let’s Talk podcast, Rama said enforcement would be tightened to ensure compliance with regulated fuel prices.

He also highlighted the government’s recent approval of a normative act to reduce fuel excise, noting that a 20% cut will automatically take effect when diesel prices exceed 220 lek per litre and petrol surpasses 200 lek per litre.

“These thresholds have been predefined to ensure a fair and balanced intervention in line with market developments,” Rama said.

The government head said the government has a responsibility to mitigate the immediate impact of international price shocks on consumers, while safeguarding public finances.

“These are developments beyond our control, but we are obliged to respond in a way that cushions citizens without undermining fiscal stability, particularly at a time of high uncertainty in international markets,” he said.

Rama added that the measure will remain in force until global conditions stabilise, while the Transparency Board will continue to monitor developments and ensure that domestic prices reflect international trends in a transparent and verifiable manner.

He described the policy as a timely response aimed at preventing abuse by fuel distributors and protecting consumers.

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The taskforce, comprising the Tax Administration and Customs Administration, identified multiple breaches among fuel trading companies flagged through risk analysis. Violations included failure to issue tax invoices, undeclared employees, trading without proper documentation, without installing fiscalisation systems, and poor record-keeping.

Authorities said the tax documentation of non-compliant entities has been seized for further investigation.

The Tax Administration urged all operators in the sector to comply with existing legislation, stressing the importance of formalising economic activity. Inspections are expected to continue nationwide to curb price abuses and protect consumers.

Fuel prices in Albania have risen sharply in recent weeks, approaching 220 leks per litre, mirroring developments in international markets driven by geopolitical tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel.

In response, the government has stepped up oversight of the sector. Economy and Innovation Minister Delina Ibrahimaj said the taskforce will carry out daily field inspections to ensure compliance.

Authorities have also reinstated the fuel price transparency board and are preparing to introduce a “floating excise” mechanism, under which excise taxes would be automatically reduced by 20% if fuel prices reach the 220 leks per litre threshold, aiming to ease the burden on consumers.

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Manja added that, “Through Balla, we declared that with the President of the Republic, regarding this behavior that is manifesting during the election process, we will deal immediately after the elections of April 25.”

Manja said, “The Commission of Inquiry will have to present to the Assembly a report based entirely on legal considerations. So the Commission of Inquiry in this case will have to investigate the alleged violations from a legal point of view.

Asked what are the violations of the President, Manja said that, “Specifically, he has violated Article 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, it is the principle of the rule of law. This principle means that every constitutional institution will have to act in accordance with the competencies given by the Constitution and the law and where without question the Constitution has the supremacy”.

“It is abnormal because the President of the Republic in all statements throughout the election campaign has spoken of the gang state, the gang government, certain institutions that are in the service of criminal gangs, thus violating this important principle” , said Manja

“Second, the President of the Republic has violated Article 7 of the Constitution. Indeed, the President of the Republic has some competencies over the judiciary and the prosecution or even law enforcement agencies because he receives information from the Services, intelligence agencies, but the President of the Republic cannot forcibly enter the core of the activity of these institutions,” said Manja.

“Third, Article 86 of the Constitution, which defines the President as head of state and a symbol of the unity of the Nation. This means the president cannot take a political side. But, in the concrete case before the elections of April 25, what the president did overshadowed the constitutional authority of the President of the Republic by maintaining a political side being completely in the service of a political force in opposition. So the president came out of the Constitutional mission itself, openly opposing the government”, said Manja.

“The fourth violation is the most serious, in my opinion. The Constitution has clearly defined that the main directions of foreign policy in international relations are an attribute of the Council of Ministers and the main directions of this policy are approved by the Albanian Parliament. Now what happens? We have defined in our foreign policy strategy our allies and strategic partners, the US and the EU. If Ilir Meta, the President of the Republic, thinks that the US Ambassador in Tirana represents herself and Ilir Meta, not the President of the Republic, but Ilir Meta and wants to channel the debate with the US Ambassador as a personal debate, this is beyond every normal logic”, stressed Manja.

Asked if the President’s violations are of a criminal nature, Manja said that, “Investigative Commissions certainly make a report to the Assembly, that in this case the report may propose to the Assembly the dismissal of the President of the Republic. But, in case the Commission of Inquiry finds violations of a criminal nature that are not within the competence of the Assembly, the Assembly takes a decision to refer to the competent bodies, which in this case is the Prosecution “. /a.a/p.s./