The DP Parliamentary Group emphasizes that they have acted in violation of the law by using the reserve fund to support a private musical event, damaging the state’s interests.

The DP emphasizes that they should be investigated for committing criminal offenses of abuse of office and violation of equality in tenders.

“From the above, it is clear that citizen Edi Rama, in his capacity as Prime Minister of Albania, and citizen Blendi Gonxhja, in his capacity as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, in collaboration with each other, have acted in violation of the law regarding the use of the reserve fund to support a private musical event, damaging the legitimate interests of the state, and in this sense their actions meet the objective element of the criminal offense of ‘Abuse of office,’ provided by Article 248 of the Criminal Code.

On the other hand, both these citizens, in collaboration with each other, have violated the rules regarding the freedom of participation and realization of equality of citizens in public tenders, with the purpose of creating unjust advantages and privileges for a certain economic operator, thus fulfilling the objective element of the criminal offense of ‘Violation of equality of participants in tenders or public auctions,’ provided by Article 258 of the Criminal Code”, – stated in the complaint filed with SPAK.

FULL STATEMENT:

The Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party, represented by the Head of the Parliamentary Group Mr. Gazment Bardhi, today filed with SPAK the criminal complaint against Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister Blendi Gonxhja, for the criminal offenses of “Abuse of office” and “Violation of equality of participants in tenders or public auctions,” for the proposal and approval of 4.2 million euros financing of a private event of singer Kanye West.

By Normative Act No. 3, dated 06.07.2026, upon the proposal of the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, citizen Blendi Gonxhja, the Council of Ministers has decided the partial financing of the organization and conduct of a cultural-artistic activity, with impact on promoting tourism and the image of the Republic of Albania, the concert of the internationally renowned artist Kanye West (YE), to be held in Tirana, on July 11, 2026, in the amount of 400,000,000 lek or 4.2 million euros.

In the justification of the need, the report states that in the concrete case the need is identified first in practical terms by the fact that organizing this event requires support of 400,000,000 (four hundred million) lek, without which the event/concert risks failing, based on communications between representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports and the concert organizers, and secondly in legal terms, due to the fact that the legislation in force does not have a legal basis, an authorizing legal provision, to issue a sub-legal act, which would allow granting such support, under such conditions for a music/artistic/cultural event with pronounced tourist effect. We emphasize that neither under Law No. 10 352, dated 18.11.2010, “On art and culture,” as amended, nor under Law No. 93/2015, “On tourism,” as amended, is it possible to adopt a sub-legal act to support this event under these concrete conditions.

In the criminal complaint filed by the DP parliamentary group, it is emphasized that “the legal framework in force has enshrined the obligation of state authorities to use state financial resources efficiently and effectively in the exercise of their competencies and responsibilities, while respecting the principles of sustainability of public finances, equality before the law and free competition. In this regard, the Constitution, the Stabilization and Association Agreement, as well as the laws implementing them, have prohibited any conduct or action of state institutions that inherently undermine the State Budget, the freedom of participation and equality of parties in the provision of goods and services, regardless of whether they are used for public purposes or not. It appears that on the basis of a private economic operator, citizen Blendi Gonxhja, as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, has initiated the procedure for the approval of the normative act, with the aim of granting this operator a fund of 4.2 million euros, using the reserve fund of the State Budget. The latter, referring to the above legal provisions, can only be used for expenditures that are unknown and impossible to foresee, such as cases of natural disasters, floods, earthquakes, epidemics and civil emergencies. In the concrete case, we are not facing any of these situations, since the music concert was an event planned in time, and the private economic operator had the possibility to apply in advance to obtain a certain fund for the realization of this activity, in accordance with legal procedures. By acting in this way, citizens Edi Rama and Blendi Gonxhja, on the one hand, have compromised the reserve fund, which constitutes one of the main groups of expenditures of the State Budget, as well as violated the principles of free competition and non-discrimination, since such an opportunity was not foreseen for other economic operators, who could also have applied to obtain financial support for the realization of this concert or a similar one.”

“From the above, it is clear that citizen Edi Rama, in his capacity as Prime Minister of Albania, and citizen Blendi Gonxhja, in his capacity as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, in collaboration with each other, have acted in violation of the law regarding the use of the reserve fund to support a private musical event, damaging the legitimate interests of the state, and in this sense their actions meet the objective element of the criminal offense of ‘Abuse of office,’ provided by Article 248 of the Criminal Code. On the other hand, both these citizens, in collaboration with each other, have violated the rules regarding the freedom of participation and realization of equality of citizens in public tenders, with the purpose of creating unjust advantages and privileges for a certain economic operator, thus fulfilling the objective element of the criminal offense of ‘Violation of equality of participants in tenders or public auctions,’ provided by Article 258 of the Criminal Code”, – stated in the complaint filed with SPAK.

The post Financing of Kanye West’s concert with 4 million euros, DP files complaint with SPAK against Rama and Gonxhe appeared first on Albeu.com.

The institution said that from 07:00 to 24:00, movement will be banned on the secondary axis of the “Durrës–Tirana” highway, from “Eiffeli” to “Casa Italia”. During the same time period, the exit lane of the “Durrës–Tirana” highway at the “Casa Italia” roundabout will also be closed.

Also, from 12:00 to 24:00, traffic will not be allowed on the “Casa Italia” – “Pavarësia” street – “Sokrat Miho” street segment. In the same time slot, the “Sokrat Miho Street” – “Kasem Shima” street – “7 Nëntori” street segment will also be restricted and will operate only as an exit route.

The Tirana Local Police Directorate stresses that, within the framework of the “YE” music event, which will take place on 11.07.2026 in Kashar, temporary vehicle traffic restrictions will be applied, listed as follows:

From 07:00 to 24:00, traffic will be banned on the secondary axis of the “Durrës–Tirana” highway, from “Eiffeli” to “Casa Italia”. This segment will be allowed to be used only in the outbound direction, for businesses;

From 07:00 to 24:00, traffic will be banned in the exit lane of the “Durrës–Tirana” highway, at the “Casa Italia” roundabout;

From 12:00 to 24:00, traffic will be banned on the “Casa Italia” – “Pavarësia” street – “Sokrat Miho” street segment;

From 12:00 to 24:00, traffic will be banned on the “Sokrat Miho Street” – “Kasem Shima” street – “7 Nëntori” street segment, which will function only in the outbound direction.

The authorities also warn that from the Institute bridge to “Casa Italia” there may also be partial interruptions to vehicle movement, depending on the number of participants, in order to ease traffic and ensure the normal running of the event.

During these hours, only Emergency vehicles and State Police vehicles will be allowed to enter the restricted areas.

Tirana Police ask citizens for understanding and call on drivers to organize their travel in advance by using alternative routes and following the instructions of police officers, the statement said.

The post Kanye West concert in Kashar, Tirana Police publish traffic restriction plan. Here are the roads where movement will be banned appeared first on Albeu.com.

Bardhi said that Rama told the poorest people in Europe, with the lowest wages on the continent, that since the tickets were not sold and citizens boycotted it, Albanians should pay the cost of this failure.

According to him, the only solution is to cancel the concert, as has also been done in several European countries. Bardhi says that Albanians have no reason to pay from their taxes for the consequences of a private event.

Gazment Bardhi’s reaction

When evil, arrogance and bad governance are normalized, the collapse of the state becomes inevitable. Today, Edi Rama told the poorest people in Europe, with the lowest wages on the continent, that since an unparalleled inciter of hatred among peoples had his concert fail, the tickets were not sold and citizens boycotted it, then Albanians must pay the cost of this failure, on Edi Rama’s orders.

What shamelessness! That money is not his. It is the money of Albanian citizens, who cannot find medicine in hospitals, have schools without dignified conditions, receive the lowest wages and pensions in the region, and get economic assistance at laughable levels. The state budget is not a fund to finance private activities. Absolutely not!

The only solution is to cancel the concert, as has also been done in several European countries. Albanians have no reason to pay from their taxes for the consequences of a private event or for the spread of hatred.

The post “The state budget is not a fund to finance private activities.” Bardhi: Kanye West concert should be canceled, citizens boycotted it appeared first on Albeu.com.