Former Democratic Party MP Ervin Salianji has accused Edi Rama’s government of misusing public money, raising doubts about how the Ministry of Defense conducted the tender for purchasing firefighting planes.

According to Salianji, questions about the selection procedure arise from a document by EFA Ventures, one of the largest groups in the defense industry.

He says this company submitted an offer for 3 Thrush 710P firefighting planes, which fully met the requirements and were within the Ministry of Defense’s budget.

However, after initially being declared the winner, the offer was disqualified and the contract was awarded to Air Tractor SRL, with a value 2.7 million euros higher.

The former Democratic MP demanded an explanation for why tenders are repeatedly won by companies that present the most expensive offers.

He also asked where the planes are now and whether they are ready to be used to assist during critical situations.

Salianji called for full transparency from the Ministry of Defense and the publication of every document related to this procedure.

He raised questions as well about the winning company and its legal troubles in other European Union countries.

According to him, Albania is being treated by Rama as personal property, where favors worth millions of euros are granted, while citizens face the consequences daily.

Salianji stressed that when national security is affected and the effective protection of life, property, and Albania’s forests from fires is put at risk, the process must be entirely transparent and accountable.

He declared that the Ministry of Defense has the obligation to make all tender documentation available to the public and to give Albanians complete answers.

At the same time, he called on the Special Prosecution, SPAK, to investigate the procedure, which he described as a process that raises suspicions of a corrupt affair.

In his full statement, Salianji declared that Edi Rama’s government is not abandoning corruption and abuse of public funds. He reiterated that the Ministry of Defense declared a company with an offer 2.7 million euros higher the winner, while the planes are still absent.

The post Salianji Denounces Firefighting Plane Tender: 2.7 Million Euro Higher Bid Selected, SPAK Urged to Investigate appeared first on Albeu.com.