Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Top Story

The Prime Minister said that the news for a compensation is untrue. There is a normal expropriation process, but the damaged party has not agreed with the sum and the case went to court.

“The case is in the hands of a scandalous Judge, who has increased the expropriation prices in damage of the government. He even stopped the expropriation for a gas station at the Lungomare axis in Vlore. Has added the value four times and now the process is undergoing at the Supreme Court. No money was given and the process is undergoing. The other party has complained to Strasbourg that they have not been paid, but the process is not over yet”, Rama said.

As for giving an office to former President Bujar Nishani, Rama said that this is a new standard for governments to offer a minimal service to former Presidents, and Nishani will have an office same as other former Presidents.

Sokol Balla: Speaker Ruci interrupted Berisha’s speech, when his time was up. You, on the other hand, were broadcasting Basha’s speech on your Facebook live. Do you have any clear idea about who do you want to communicate with in the opposition?

Edi Rama: On ERTV we broadcasted Basha’s speech even when he raised the protest tent. ERTV is a project under development. There will be other new things coming up. Basha is the leader of the opposition, although Berisha is the legendary leader. Some people want to see him as such, but there’s no reason for him to steal time from others.

When asked if he was concerned by the cooperation started between the Democratic Party and Socialist Movement for Integration, now both in opposition, Rama said that his only concern is to pay the people back with hard work for the trust they gave his party with the votes of June 25th, a responsibility that has nothing to do with the DP or with the SP.

Regarding future cooperation with opposition, especially for the electoral reform, Rama said that agreements would only be good for the country, which really needs them the soonest possible. “Albania only loses by offenses, conflicts and fights. But the one losing the most is he who chose this type of  politics.  The June 25th election results showed that Albanains don’t vote anymore parties who spit venom all the time, because that venom has nothing to do with the reality and true problems of the Albanian people”, Rama said.

Rama debunked the accusations of the opposition for purchasing votes. “They have been saying it after every election. We lost with just 1% difference. The opposition lost with a deeper difference. Not because there was an increase of the vote purchase capacity, but because there was a decrease of their convincing capacity”, Rama declared.

As for Gramoz Ruci, who was voted Speaker even with votes from the opposition, causing them to accuse Rama of buying MPs, the Prime Minister said that those who accuse forget that Ruci is the oldest of all MPs, and if the SMI was present, he would have received even more votes from the opposition.

Rama praised Ruci’s experience in Parliament, especially for the fact that during his entire career, he has never encouraged division or conflict. “Besides this, he is the only MP who knows the regulation better than anyone. You saw when they were trying to contest the voting, and Ruci immediately oriented them to the articles of the regulation they needed to read”, Rama said.

Sokol Balla: “Some actions of the US Ambassador were interpreted as disagreement for appointing Ruci as Speaker.

Edi Rama: Why is it that no media outlet comes up with the simple truth? Gramoz Ruci had his visa rejected in 2005. Two months later he was given a visa for an invitation at the congress of the Republican Party. That invitation had nothing to do with Ruci, it was only to show that the refusal was a mistake. This is not important, because the Speaker will visit the US Congress and this lie will end.

Sokol Balla: Will Ruci’s appointing make him give up his party functions? Will he leave his historic role at the SP?

Edi Rama: No one can remove Ruci, except for himself. Don’t be surprised if he is still there, while I’ll be at a painting course with my son Zaho.

Sokol Balla: What were you listening on your headphones when SMI’s Monika Kryemadhi was having her speech?

Edi Rama: I was just watching CNN. It was not deliberate. I have heard all of the debates with great attention.

When asked about the normalization of his relations with President Meta, Rama said that he knows Ilir Meta’s sense of responsibility about doing his duty, and he believes that he will be a good President, much better than he was as a Speaker, when he allowed Berisha to talk in Parliament more than his time was due.

Rama said he appointed the members of the new government cabinet by taking in consideration their experience, talents, abilities and capacity to be part of a team.

Edi Rama: The government is just one part of the team. The other part is the parliamentary group and then the party. We all give our efforts to create a real coalition with the people. We are presenting our platform by the end of September, through a mechanism that will make it available to every Albanian citizen. This platform will offer a series of interactions, even interpellation with the Prime Minister by request of members of this coalition.

Sokol Balla: Seems a bit populist, things that are easily forgotten…

Edi Rama: It’s a very big challenge and purpose and we are going to do everything possible to make it real. I appeal citizens to be part of this process and put us to the test.

Sokol Balla: The Prime Minister’s Office is taking more functions under its wing. Is it true you are going to deal with tenders from now on?

Edi Rama: This is not true. The Prime Minister’s Office has a unit for complaints, which will now offer the possibility to track the progress of complaints filed by citizens. If the office will be unable to resolve it, the Ministry will take over after a weekly report. Every citizen will be taken care of same as if they had their friend in the government. If it is proven that the citizen is right, the public employee inflicting the damage will be dismissed immediately.

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