Alliance for the Protection of the Theater to Internationals: Constitution Violated, Public Property Stolen

The Alliance for the Protection of the Theater (AMT), a group of artists and citizens who oppose the demolition of the National Theater and expropriation of public property have raised their concerns with foreign representatives in Albania.

Through a letter, the AMT explains the EU Delegation, ambassadors, and MEPs the violations of the Constitution committed by the Rama government by approving the special law that gives private company Fusha shpk the right to redevelop the plot of the National Theater and the area around it.

The main points of AMT’s letter are:

  1. The “special law” violates the principle of equality before the law and fair competition, which are principles enshrined in the Constitution and the Association and Stabilization Agreement signed by the EU and Albania. The fact that this type of aid has not been defined in other laws, such as the Civil Code, is because they are prohibited by the Constitution.
  2. The company Fusha shpk has no privileged position in this case, as the property up for redevelopment is 90% public property. Even if this were not the case, the necessity of fair competition stands.
  3. The government continues to be unable to respond to the problem that nearly 50% of the property belongs to the Municipality of Tirana, which can only decide on expropriation with 3/5 of the votes in the Municipal Council, which is circumvented by the special law.
  4. The government ignores the fact that the Constitutional Court remains non-functional as result of the vetting, and that even though requests to evaluate the special law may be deposited, no decision can be made.
  5. The government lies when it states that the National Theater building has never had historical or cultural value. VKM no. 180 from April 13, 2000, when Edi Rama himself was Minister of Culture, includes the National Theater in the protected monumental zone of Tirana. This VKM was only recently changed by the Rama government to make way for private development.

The AMT continues to hold daily meetings in front of the National Theater at 19:00.

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