Arlinda Pogaj, Gonxha's hidden PR and the tender manager who attacks the opposition

Blendi Gonxhja, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, denied the statement of the Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha that Gilmando Dani, the victim of the assassination attempt in Rinas, had served as his bodyguard.

Gonxha threatened to sue the leader of the DP, while the latter appeared ready for a showdown in court, as he reiterated the accusations against Gonxha for involvement in criminal gangs.

Gonxha's statement was shared several times by Arlinda Pogaj, the director of the Centralized Purchasing Operator. On Pogaj's official profile, articles referring to Gonxha's response to Berisha are noted.

  

But who is Arlinda Pogaj?

Pogaj's appointment as head of the Centralized Purchasing Operator is seen as a strategic move by Blendi Gonxhja, the minister responsible for the Centralized Purchasing Operator, to control a key public tender mechanism.

Before becoming the administrator of OPB, Arlinda Pogaj previously held the position of lawyer at the General Directorate of Road Transport Services, when Gonxhaj was in charge at the time.

Gonxha, for his part, praised Pogaj's position as part of a reform that he said was "increasing transparency" and savings in public procurement. At a conference marking the 1st anniversary of the OBP, he stated that the OBP had saved 20.4 million euros from the state budget, giving credit to Pogaj.

The Democratic Party has denounced Blendi Gonxha for manipulating tenders from the Centralized Purchasing Operator, and the director of this institution, Arlinda Poga, for sharing predetermined tenders with their friends, benefiting from millions of euros from the public budget.

According to the DP's denunciation, tenders totaling 26.1 million euros were allocated favorably to companies linked to MPs and other figures associated with the socialist party, including Dajti-Park 2007 shpk and companies of the Sinani family.

Today, Pogaj has turned into Blendi Gonxha's PR, responding in complete synchrony to her 'boss' attacks on the opposition.

OBP scandals under Pogaj's leadership

Pogaj has been involved in several scandals related to tender abuses and clientelism.

OBP, under the leadership of Pogaj, announced the winner of the company "Inerti shpk" for the construction of the shooting range and gym complex for the special forces of the Prisons, with a contract of 194 million lek without VAT (about 2 billion old lek with VAT), financed by the state budget.

As Boldnews writes , the tender with a limited fund of 296.3 million lekë was held on September 19, 2025, with the participation of 14 companies. But immediately after the end, OBP disqualified 13 of them with technical justifications that experts consider fabricated and selective, declaring "Inerti shpk" the winner.

The company is known for its connections to the economic network of the Tirana municipality and well-known figures of the socialist party, including administration close to Erion Veliaj, who for years has controlled a significant share of public contracts in construction, maintenance and services. According to the National Business Center, “Inerti” has participated in dozens of state and municipal tenders in recent years, while sources close to the OBP and the municipality indicate that behind the company are people close to former directors and administrators who have previously benefited from public tenders.

The difference between the limit fund and the winning bid of "Inerti" is around 100 million lekë, which raises suspicions of manipulation of competition, avoidance of lower bids and profit maximization for predetermined beneficiaries.

This tender is not the first time that Arlinda Pogaj's name has been mentioned.

In recent months, OBP has awarded dozens of contracts in sectors such as food, construction and services, often to companies with family or business ties to Tirana municipal leaders and figures in the majority. The shooting range tender is part of an agreement between OBP, the Prisons Directorate and companies close to Veliaj's network, to ensure financial flow and increased economic influence in the run-up to local elections.

The massive disqualification of operators, the manipulated criteria, and the announcement of a predetermined winner point to a structured corruption scheme, where Arlinda Pogaj acts as a "political tender manager," while companies linked to Veliaj benefit from millions in public funds.