Rama’s visit in the USA

During the conversation, Edi Rama focused on the need for changes in Albania and the SP program for an Albanian Rebirth.

On his speech, the SP leader, Edi Rama, underlined that Albania needs a change of the government’s behavior and better governing.

 Rama answered to the question why the progressive tax is needed in Albania with concrete examples.

“The flat tax is an abuse, and this is a concrete truth in Albania. It cannot be that a nurse is obliged to pay more taxes than the Prime Minister”, Rama declared.

Geri Kokolari asked what Edi Rama would do different from Berisha for the independence of the institutions.

“I can say what we will not do. We will not interfere with the other constitutional institutions. We will not interfere with the General Prosecution, and we will never ask the judges to not bring justice. This is not only something based on words, but based on facts. We have facts that prove that in opposition we have had another behavior than the government, for the same matters. The General Prosecution asked the removal of three our MPs, for investigating the January 21st events, and we not only did not object to this, but we voted in favor of the MPs immunity”, Rama declared.

To the question of one former persecuted man, of what the Socialist Party would do for this category, the Socialist leader declared:

“We are committed to have a different approach to this category, not for their votes, but based on the conviction that this is a matter of social justice. We have established a working group, led by a young lady, who is the daughter of a former politically persecuted person, who has suffered the political persecution personally. In cooperation with other people from this group, she will lead the work for the program. We will include their proposals in our program and will engage for every proposal to be available according to our point of view”, Rama declared.

Rama meets Gerwin Bell

The Socialist leader announced through Twitter that he has discussed in New York with the IMF expert for Albania, Gerwin Bell, whom he acquainted with his concerns about the budget income and expenses during the first two months of the year.

“I had a very pleasant consult in New York with Gerwin Bell, from the IMF. There is a necessity for realist economic and fiscal policies. The focus is on reducing the debt”, Rama declared.

“The rigorous review of the budget, based on the concerning data of two years ago, is a necessity that should be treated as soon as possible”, Rama declared.

The IMF has closed its permanent mission in Albania before the 2009 elections, but has kept the Albanian economic data under careful observation. Gerwin Bell has covered Albania for the IMF during the recent years, initially as an official with permanent residence in Albania and then from distance. He has insisted several times during the recent years for more realistic economies and for more government efforts against the high budget deficit and the public debt increase.

On his last visit in Albania, he suggested an increase of the flat tax from 10% that it actually is to 12-15%, which could increase the income and lower the budget expense.

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