Socialists as coastal beys/ Another Rama MP becomes a resort in the South

Two clues make a proof - say the Italians. And the clues of high-ranking socialist officials who are involved in hotels and resorts on the South coast are numerous. The last in line is Arben Pëllumbi.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Productive Activities will build a tourist complex with apartments and a hotel in Radhima, Vlora. A month ago, Mr. Pëllumbi's company applied to the National Environment Agency to obtain the necessary environmental permits.

According to the application, it is a tourist complex apart-hotel KSG with 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 floors above ground and 2 underground.

The application was made by the company ABA, whose shares are 100 percent owned by the socialist MP and which is administered by his brother Erlind Pëllumbi.

The Pigeon Clan

This is not the first time that a senior official from the majority party has been involved in construction on the coast. Artan Gaçi, former socialist MP and husband of former foreign minister Olta Xhaçka, attempted to build a 5-star hotel in Himara.

The family of the former Foreign Minister also received the status of Strategic Investor for this investment and was granted the right to use the beach for 30 years by a decision of the government of which Ms. Xhaçka was a member. But after the matter became public, the investment was reported to SPAK by Fredi Beleri, the mayor who never became the mayor of Himara.

Elected as the opposition candidate for the head of the Himara Municipality, Beleri did not enjoy a single day of his mandate after being arrested by the prosecution for vote buying. But from his cell he compiled a report, which caused quite a bit of trouble for the former Foreign Minister. After investigating the case, SPAK arrested the former mayor of Himara, Jorgo Goro, for falsifying property documents.

Investigations found that the property had been stolen by initially giving it to two local residents with false documents. The latter sold it to the family of the former foreign minister for a price significantly below market value, around 20 euros per square meter. By decision of the Special Court, the land was definitively confiscated by the state, while Mr. Goro was sentenced to 2 years in prison.

But the seaside resort business is not the only connection between the former Foreign Minister and Mr. Pëllumbi. They are also part of a family. Ms. Xhacka is Mr. Pëllumbi's granddaughter. In short, the Pëllumbi Clan.

Clues, clues make a philosophy

A few years ago, the AZHBR grants in Shkodra ended up almost all in the close circle of a socialist MP. When word reached Rama's ears, the latter asked the MP for clarification. And the MP's response was epic.

-Oh boss, instead of letting the villagers take the money and waste it buying oil for their cars, it's better that we have it under control and don't allow abuses- he said. And the prime minister laughed.

Tourism has now become the main engine of the Albanian economy. A large part of the state's development policies have focused precisely on tourism, from granting strategic status, to the donation of state land to fiscal privileges, the government has invested great public favors in tourism.

But there is always a risk that these favors and privileges will be abused. So it seems that the government has applied the Shkodra strategy. Keeping it within the circle is the mechanism to keep tourism development under control because the future of the economy cannot be left to chance or the irresponsibility of private investors outside the Party circle./ Kapitali