An audio recording published on Tuesday in Albania appears to show a government official telling his staff to delay negative responses to people’s requests to have their houses legalized due to possible electoral backlash.
In the audio recording published by journalist Artan Hoxha, the head of the State Cadastre Agency, Artan Lame is heard telling his staff to tell owners of 100,000 houses built illegally, which cannot be legalized and registered due to different reasons, that the government is still considering their cases, so that they don’t put their support with the opposition. He adds that his recommendations come after a meeting with Prime Minister Edi Rama on the issue one month before.
Lame admitted the authenticity of the recording but said it was done after the 2017 general elections and not on electoral grounds.
The head of the Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecution, Arben Kraja told BIRN that they have received no criminal report related to the case and no investigation was launched. He added that they will look into the issue.
Opposition leader Lulzim Basha condemned what he called “yet another scandal” of the ruling Socialist Party, whom he accused of promising government services like legalization of houses in exchange for citizens’ vote.
President Ilir Meta called on prosecutors to investigate the case for possible electoral crimes.
