RTSH Scandal/Zhupa in Parliament: Dismiss the members of the Steering Council

2025-02-17 17:59:00, Politikë CNA

The Chairperson of the Media Committee, Ina Zhupa, spoke today from the Parliament's rostrum and in her speech focused on the issue of the RTSH scandal.

Zhupa referred to the Commission's draft decision to dismiss the members of the RTSH Steering Council, following the findings in the report and numerous abuses in the director selection procedure, as well as nepotistic and financial ones.

The DP MP mentioned a list of violations found and stated during the confrontation in the Media Committee of the Council with the MPs in the Assembly a few days ago.

Zhupa requested from the Assembly the dismissal of all members of the Council for these serious violations, as a unanimous decision of the Commission, including members of the majority.

"After 3 years of struggle, what we said was seen. Even the majority was convinced now. The election of members or directors of the RTSH Council was with violations and we said so. Alfred Peza was elected with violations and now these violations have been ascertained. Our commission reached this conclusion. The RTSH Council has committed a series of violations in the election of the new director, from the selection of candidates to the voting, such as the online one from Vietnam and keeping a record, but declared a secret vote. But with this pseudo-secret vote, they decided not to include those who met the criteria and to implement what the law does not say," said Zhupa.

Then, Zhupa listed some of the most serious violations, such as lack of documents, ignoring laws, and even conflict of interest.

"The Council did not request the implementation of the law for a document from the Files Authority if the candidates were spies or State Security informants. It has declared an unjustified delay, keeping the position vacant for a long time. Most of the members were involved in conflicts of interest related to their duties there. Some had employed family members there, others received projects while they were members of RTSH. Some received bonuses for themselves, as if they were on their father's land and not on the RTSH Council. 23 million euros per year were abused and spent there, with sackings, dismissals, appointments, whatever, with twice as much cost, with trials that are won and paid for with money from the state budget. With abusive directors who have been accused. It only cared about itself and did not serve the public interest," said Zhupa.

Finally, Zhupa pointed out the behavior and lack of legal knowledge of the members of the Council, who had later committed his violation as a result of ignorance.

"We held a hearing there at the Commission and they told us that they did not know the law. They played us for fools, but in fact they are equally guilty whether they knew or not. They have squandered Albanians' taxes, so on behalf of the Commission and colleagues, we demand the dismissal of the members of the RTSH Council," said Zhupa. /CNA