Albania says 'nothing illegal' on €4 million Kanye West concerts subsidy
The Albanian government is defending its decision to subsidize a Kanye West concert with €4 million in public funds amid public protests. Officials argue the event provides tourism benefits, while critics condemn the funding of an artist associated with antisemitic rhetoric.
Why it matters
It highlights the tension between government-funded cultural promotion and public moral accountability in the context of controversial public figures.
Albania's government has defended its decision to allocate €4 million ($4.6 million) from its reserve fund to support a Kanye West concert in Tirana, as the rapper faces widespread outrage over past comments glorifying Hitler and selling swastika T-shirts.Culture minister Blendi Gonxhja said the funding was approved through a normative act and did not come from the country's emergency fund or divert money from hospitals or public programmes. "There is nothing illegal about this decision," he said.The concert, scheduled for Saturday, required a purpose-built structure on the city's outskirts planned to host 60,000 people. Local media have reported ticket sales have fallen well short.
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