The Central Election Committee has fined the Head of the Lushnje local directorate Arben Qalliu, 1500 lek (EUR 12) for violating a decision prohibiting the use of state resources in the election campaign.
Earlier in the week, the CEC announced that they would be investigating two allegations against Socialist MP of Fier Bujar Cela and Qalliu who had been handing out legalization permits to citizens and posting it on social media.
Earlier this month, the Central Election Commission decided that ‘propaganda’ activities of the government using state resources would be banned four months prior to the general election in April.
As per the proposal, some of the country’s top officials will be banned from conducting propaganda with state initiatives. Areas include transport, energy, environment, health, culture, and education. They will also be prohibited from advertising reconstructed buildings or project due to natural disasters, or the public distribution of legalisation permits.
The CEC specifically refers to the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, ministers and deputy ministers, mayors, deputy mayors, general directors of agencies, or companies such as OSHEE, Water Supply, or Posta Shqiptare etc.
The government will also not be allowed to make decisions on salary increases, pensions, economic or social support, tax cuts or abolitionist, fiscal amnesties, privatization, or the award of assets.
Despite this, numerous officials including Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj and Prime Minister Edi Rama have been seen apparently flaunting the rules on several occasions.
