"We must remove the noose from the citizens' throats"/ Bylykbashi: Suspend the fuel tax

2026-04-14 13:55:00, Aktualitet CNA

"We must remove the noose from the citizens' throats"/

DP MP, Oerd Bylykbashi, at today's meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs, spoke about the increase in oil prices.

Bylykbashi stated that in this regard, the government has not taken any measures to ease the situation for citizens, who are facing price increases for many products.

"Now, come on, explain to people why the day the conflict breaks out, prices go up that day. It's not like we got fuel, it was there at the Durrës depots, it was ready. Because they have also found a way to get it without paying money, they get it in condition, it comes, without paying and pay when it clears customs, the companies. So, the price reflects the moment. And at that moment when it had exploded, it hadn't happened yet, prices go up. Now, in any kind of responsible government, even without cartel mechanisms, it takes measures, intervenes to alleviate the situation, because it responds politically to the non-individual interest, but now to the public, because all those millions of Albanians who have this problem every day, that even a kilo of tomatoes has gone up to 4,000 old lek, not to mention all the other things, they feel it every day. We talk here, and it seems like theater to them, because they have the situation. So, the little lek that pensioners receive, or those who receive the minimum wage, or anyone else, but also those who have "Not bad salaries, they understand how much the purchasing power they have with money in their hands has decreased ," said Bylykbashi.

Among other things, the MP said that even though the crisis comes from abroad, the mechanisms for dealing with it are within the state. He further stated that he supports the proposal for the complete suspension of fuel taxes, which will bring relief to the cost of living.

"Now, is it possible for this parliament to at least respond to this? For a problem that citizens have, to respond to it through a mechanism that removes this burden from them, makes it easier for them. It is with a proposal with a specific deadline, also because as explained, we still do not know when the crisis will end. We know that it comes from abroad, but we have the mechanisms in our hands. Why doesn't Kosovo have it like us? Why doesn't Macedonia have it? Why doesn't Montenegro have it? We have it worse than everyone else, for something that, as I said, is very simple. For the same price, in 2012 it was many times lower than it is today. So, the only reason is the tax that has come from 2013 onwards.

Is it possible to simplify things for citizens, to make bread less expensive, sugar less expensive, oil less expensive, tomatoes less expensive, all kinds of vegetables. Those who know in their daily lives that they can't even make it half the month. You say no. You are ready, I know very well the proposal that will be voted against now, but at least Albanians understand it. We are not talking about constitutional changes, or I don't know what. We are not interested at all at this point. Their daily lives have nothing to do with sophisticated debates. Let's intervene and give them breathing space, let's take the noose off their necks. Without further ado, I repeat our position once again, we totally support the proposal for the complete suspension of taxes until the period foreseen in the draft proposal", said the MP. /CNA