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"I will be the voice of the youth in Parliament"/ Albi Jahelezi, candidate of "PD-ASHM" interview for CNA

2025-04-27 10:41:00, Politikë CNA

"I will be the voice of the youth in Parliament"/ Albi Jahelezi,

Albi Jahelezi, candidate for deputy in the Tirana district on the open list of the PD-ASHM coalition, in an interview with CNA, explained why he decided to run in the May 11 elections and his personal challenges, some of which are reflecting the real life of Albanians in the parliament and the commitment to recreate an environment for young people not to leave Albania.

Why did you decide to become a part of politics? You actually have time in politics, but why on earth did you choose to run for MP?

It's been 8 years since I joined politics, in the Republican Party. In my beginnings, I was a member of the FRPD. With a different approach and point of view that I saw, my ideas and what I represent were more in line with the Republican Party. I passed as part of the PR, despite the fact that for me it is a party because for 30 years they have been in coalition together and are inseparable. It is the only party that has remained correct in its clear ideas and together with the opposition since its beginnings. I have been a member of the Republican Party for 8 years, I was the president of the youth forum, I ran in 2023 as a member of the Tirana municipal council, where I won and am a part. I am currently the vice president of the Republican Party and a candidate for deputy of the Tirana district of "PD-ASHM". The reason why I am running is not unclear and it is not very difficult to say because we know that the most mature age today has left Albania. 20-35 year olds are the most withdrawn and the average age in Tirana is heading towards 50-60 years old. All my university friends, 80% of them have left. This has been one of the main reasons why I joined politics, because it hurts me when all these young people leave and do not find that comfort zone or development opportunities in our country. The main problem today for a student who graduates from university and leaves school is the lack of jobs. Let's not talk about salaries, the way they approach work, how they are treated in the workplace. Arrogance prevails in the political ranks and corridors. This has made me enter politics and become a strong voice for young people, so that the youth here can flourish and not leave. Rama has always promised integration into the EU, but in fact he has exported young people to EU countries.

As a candidate for MP, is it also a personal challenge to show all young people that they need to do more?

It is definitely a personal challenge. I always have the youth as my main topic and wherever I go I loudly proclaim the youth program. All those key points that we have touched on in the DP program are a very concrete and very well-thought-out plan for all the young people who want to return to their country.

Any business that will employ any young person under the age of 30 and the insurance is paid for by the DP, this will make it easier for businessmen.

You are on the open list in the Tirana district, in the “PD-ASHM” coalition. If you had the opportunity to choose between the closed list and the open list, who would you choose?

Absolutely the open list. I really like challenges and I think that the open list is a challenge for all of us young politicians, to prove ourselves and to get acquainted with the troubles and problems of citizens. A politician who proves himself must go out into the field. In the peripheral areas he really sees the troubles and problems. The government today has come up with a slogan that promises the European passport while people today have no electricity, no income.

Do you think that the closed list avoids direct contact with people? Being part of the closed list would give the opportunity to be in Parliament and what we are saying today to have an even stronger voice from the Parliament podium.

Being on a closed list makes you somewhat part of a comfort zone, a comfort zone because you know that you have become an MP and maybe it doesn't make you as challenging in the field. It is the most appropriate thing for us young people to be on an open list.

Should young people be added to politics? Should we have a refresh of Parliament?

At least on the list I adhere to, 70% are young. This refresh will restore the dignity of our country. We young people have been absent as part of Parliament in recent years, so there has been a very small number and we all agree on this. I think this is the most inspiring list that the DP has ever had and the program it has is the best it has had in 34 years. For 12 years we have only had a government that has turned into a narco-state.

How do you see the SP in the May 11 elections? It comes after three terms in power, do you think it is still strong?

To say it is still strong, neither I nor any citizen can accept it. It is strong because of what we went through. The split of the DP. The problem that Basha had with Berisha. This made the SP stay in power. In 12 years it has insulted its opponents with derogatory language and has shown that it knows how to dance tallava./ CNA