Individual Grant Payments for the Reconstruction after the Earthquake, focus on Election Campaigns, 2020 – May 2023 comparison

Open Data Albania is bringing up to date the distribution of individual grants in the frame of the Reconstruction Program after the Earthquake, in non Election months, throughout the 2020-2023 period, and in the months part of Election Campaigns (30 days before voting).

Construction or Reconstruction grants have benefited families damaged by the natural disaster, whose residential houses have been classified as damaged or uninhabitable. The distribution of individual grants in substantial numbers during election campaigns can be also related to possible attempts to influence and gratify the electorate, by the political ruling majority.                      

Election campaign months considered are: March-April 2021, which coincide with General Parliamentary Elections, and April-May 2023, to the Local Government Elections. On March 6, 2022, partial elections were held in three of the municipalities that are part of the Reconstruction Program, but no payments were found to be issued in these months.

There are overall 11 municipalities part of the Reconstruction Program: namely, Tirana, Durrësi, Vora, Kamza, Shijaku, Rrogozhina, Kruja, Lezha, Kurbini, Rrësheni and Kavaja, where 18 billion lek have been distributed as transfers per individual for the reconstruction or repair of homes damaged by the Earthquake November 2019. This amount constitutes 22.5% of the total value of the Reconstruction Fund determined in the State Budget until 2023.

During those four election months (March 2021, April 2021, April 2023 and May 2023), about 15% of the total fund transfers, i.e individual grants in frame of the Reconstruction (individual grants), worth of ALL 2.75 billions, have been allocated to various citizens. The rest of such fund, 85%, or ALL 15.22 billion, was distributed during non-election months.

On average, during election campaign months (March and April 2021; April and May 2023) about ALL 695.5 millions have been distributed, whereas, during non-election months (June 2020 – May 2023) monthly transfers mark an average of about ALL 491.1 million. So there is a surplus of ALL 204.4 millions, on average, during the election month, compared to non election months, or an additional 42% distributed.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The municipalities of Tirana and Durrës are the ones with the largest funds allocated towards individuals whose houses were damaged, respectively ALL 5.53 billion Durrës and ALL 3.64 billion Tirana.

Tabela: Share of Individual Grants in the frame of the Reconstruction Program during Elections month versus normal month
Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The municipality of Lezha has allocated 41% of the total reconstruction individual grants, solely used throughout the months proceeding the general elections. In absolute numbers they translate into ALL 302 millions out of the ALL ALL millions in total.

Vora has distributed to individuals during the 4 months of 2021’s election campaigns an amount of ALL 502.8 millions, out of the total ALL 1.59 billion fund, i.e. 31.6% share of the total (March – April 2021 and April – May 2023).

Kruja stands at a level of 18.4% of the total grants and it is not to be considered a small share, given that there are 35 months worth of payments and only 4 months recorded as Election Campaign. That translates into ALL 237.8 million already used,out of the total ALL 1.3 billion.

Whereas, all in all, the Durrës Municipality has transferred to citizens the amount of ALL 5.5 billions, as transfers for individuals affected by the November 26, 2019’s earthquake. In April 2021, respectively, it allocated the amount of ALL 792 millions in individual grants for light reconstructions of houses.

Regarding this issue, during 2021, the Organization AIS considered the transfer of funds during the election period as a case where public money was used to influence voters in Durrës, in violation of the Electoral Code. To that end, AIS initiated legal proceedings, demanding an me kërkesën në Administrative probe into the whole institution of the Elections.

About 16% (ALL 1.1 billion ) of the total individual payments were made in the months proceeding the 2021 general elections campaign (4 months), meanwhile 84% (ALL 4.44 billion ) was distributed throughout the rest of the months under review (namely, 35 months overall, starting from June 2020, when the individual grants were approved, until May 2023).

In Durrës, there was an abundant number of applications outcomes that were issued in the month of April 2021, the month coinciding with the final days before the citizens were due to select their MPs.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The Municipality of Tirana has distributed, in the form of individual reconstruction grants until May 2023, about ALL 3.64 billions. In the 4 months of the election campaign, Tirana made transfers worth 310 million ALL or 8.5% of the total fund.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The third municipality boasting the largest size of individual reconstruction grants for earthquake-damaged housing is the municipality of Shijak, with grants amounting to ALL 2.09 billion.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The municipality of Vora has consolidated a total individual housing reconstruction budget, until May 2023, in the amount of ALL 1.59 billion, which, again, are consistent with the pattern discerned in other affected cities,  in which a significant portion of the individual reconstruction grants were allocated during the 4-month election campaign. Accordingly, in the month of March 2021, about 27% of the total individual grants or about ALL 430.4 million were issued. An ongoing trend that continued again during the 2023 elections.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The municipality of Kruja was assigned individual grants worth of ALL 1.3 billion. In the period prior to the 2023 election campaign, a significant increase in transfers, with ALL 167.7 billions issued in one month, was easily detected.

On average, during  election months, payments regarding individual grant are calculated in the amount of ALL 59.4 millions, against the average ALL 34.1 millions in other months.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Kamez Municipality has allocated grants for the Reconstruction of damaged houses, until May 2023, in the amount of ALL 883 millions, during the election campaign months (11.8%).

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Rrogozhine Municipality used grants the size of ALL 93.2 millions or 12.1% of transfers, during election months and  a total of ALL 677.9 million for the other 30 combined months.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Lezhë Municipality has transferred to the citizens affected by the earthquake about ALL 737 million until May 2023 for the reconstruction of damaged homes. About 38% of this amount or about ALL 280 million were distributed only in April 2021, which coincides with the campaign for the 2021 parliamentary elections. Also, a slight increase in grants is also observed after March 2023, which coincides with the 2023 elections.

About 41% of the total transfers allocated by the municipality until May 2023, were distributed precisely in the months during election campaigns, namely ALL 302 million.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Until April 2023, the Municipality of Kavajë has distributed about ALL 667 millions as individual grants for the reconstruction of houses damaged by the earthquake. However, no concentration of public money distributed was observed during the months of the local elections campaign.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

There are about ALL 670 million that the Kurbin Municipality has transferred, in the form of individual grants, for the repairing of houses damaged by the earthquake. Mostly the largest installments payed were made during the month of July. This municipality does not show concentration of distributed funds on election campaign days.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

The Municipality of Rreshen has distributed individual grants for the reconstruction of damaged homes in the amount of ALL 120 million. Likewise, no concentration of said funds was observed in the election campaign months.

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Source: Open Spending Albania
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania

Other Articles regarding the allocation of the Reconstruction Fund can be accessed via the FollowtheMoney platform. Other data on the individual grants issued towards Municipalities can be accessed in the Spending Data Albania database, Treasury Transactions section, by searching for the Individual Transfers category using code 6061 and code 6060, as well as by searching one of the Municipalities:  Tirana, Durrës, Kurbin, Vorë, Lezhë, Shijak, Kruje, Rrogozhinë, Rreshen, Kamzë, Kavajë.

Download excel: Individual Grant Payments for the Reconstruction after the Earthquake, focus on Election Campaigns, 2020 – May 2023 comparison
Comments and Analyses: Open Data Albania
Contributed by: Ilir Brasha
Translated by: Rezarta Caushaj