A day after Prime Minister Edi Rama's statements on fines and inspections, Democratic Party MP Jorida Tabaku reacted by analyzing the way the state administration exerts pressure on businesses. According to Tabaku, fines are not being used to fight informality or improve the economic climate, but have become an instrument of pressure that fuels corruption and mainly hits businesses that respect the law. The MP brought to attention figures that, according to her, show the extent of the problem. During 2022 and 2023 alone, the tax administration has imposed around 4.6 billion lek in penalties.
"Business is not only suffering the burden of unfair taxes, but also state officials who knock on the door of business that complies with the law, while turning a blind eye to tax evaders and forgiving them," Tabaku declared. She stressed that complaints from citizens and entrepreneurs against the administration have increased. According to her, the fine is being used as a blackmail tool to collect what she described as a "corruption tax."
