PARLIAMENT, PS DEPUTIES: DO NOT REMOVE THE EXCISE TAX ON ENERGY DRINKS RUÇI-DOKLE AGAINST “The fiscal package, the state loses money” Gramoz Ruçi: I would support the excise tax on drinks if the IMF asked for it. It was a mistake to say ‘a diplomat is asking us to do it’. Namik Dokle: The budget loses 282 million lekë The socialist deputies of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Policy joined yesterday their colleagues from the parliamentary Committee on Economy, who had strongly opposed two days earlier the removal of the excise tax on energy drinks. The head of the PS parliamentary group, Gramoz Ruçi, described the removal of the excise tax yesterday as unfair, while socialist lawmaker Namik Dokle stressed that the state budget loses 282 million lekë from this government proposal, with which, according to him, other sectors of the country's economy could be helped. “The removal of the excise tax on energy drinks is unfair; we lose more than 282 million lekë a year. With that amount we could send 2,000 students to the best universities. I am in favor of not removing the excise tax on energy drinks; those 282 million lekë that could be gained from it should go to the benefit of hospitals, schools, nurseries, and investments. I am even less in agreement with what the Ministry of Finance presented in the Committee on Economy, where it said that there is ... Continues on page 3

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INTERVIEW / Close friend: He was writing our new song (In the photo:) Former member of the group “West Side Family”, Armir Shahini. Dr. Flori Tirana Police: Proceedings against the 50-year-old from the Emergency Department. It is suspected that he did not provide help in time and that this may have caused the death By ENIDA HIMAJ “West Side Family” was the music group that in the 2000s became a favorite of the Albanian public. Dr. Flori, Landi and Miri, with success as a ... On page 7

ANNIVERSARY On page 5

RAINFALL On page 13

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Business Loan Energy Efficiency Loan www.fondibesa.com

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