The Albanian opposition in North Macedonia is united

2024-02-17 16:59:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Albanian opposition parties in North Macedonia, on Saturday, February 17, have signed the declaration for the Albanian opposition union, which they evaluate as "an important step towards the unification of the Albanian parties" in this country.

The opposition coalition will bear the name "VLEN", while until now it was called the European League for Change (LEN).

"The union is laying the foundations of a new era between the Albanian parties in the country, showing a common unity to face the challenges and to build a common vision for the future of the Albanians in the country", says the statement signed in Skopje .

The declaration was also signed by Bekim Qoku, the advisor to the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, whose party supports the Albanian opposition in North Macedonia.

The Vetëvendosja movement, led by Kurti, will have its members on electoral lists for the parliamentary elections to be held in North Macedonia on May 8.

Part of the opposition are the parties that until now constituted the European League for Change: Democratic Movement, Alternative, Besa Movement. Now part of them is also the Alliance for Albanians led by Arben Taravari.

On Thursday, February 15, Taravari announced his candidacy for the president of North Macedonia for the April 24 elections.

He has the support of all opposition parties and the Vetëvendosje Movement.

"I don't want to mention political opponents anymore, we will do the political battle with a rotten 22-year-old system that exiled the Albanians, humiliated the Albanians in every aspect, broke and destroyed the entire system of values ??that existed among the Albanians . Therefore, our opponent is the rotten system. The movement is coming, the movement will bring change on May 8," said Taravari.

Before the announcement of the candidacy, Arben Taravari and other opposition representatives had a meeting in Pristina with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, where the topic of the debate was "the need for the Albanians to come up with a candidate for president".

"On April 24, we will testify and demonstrate that this country has two majorities and dozens of minorities, and we, as the second majority, have the intellectual and human capacity to compete for the presidency of this country," declared Izet Mejhiti, one of the representatives of Albanian opposition.

The ruling Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) led by Ali Ahmeti, which will compete against the opposition, has not yet announced whether it will participate with its candidate in the presidential elections or support the candidate of the Social Democratic League, as if in the last election.

The parties have until March 19 to announce their candidacies for president.

The presidential elections will be held in two rounds, the first on April 24, while the second round will be held together with the parliamentary elections, on May 8./ REL