Tour with 4 municipal candidates/ Taravari in Pogradec: Anti-Albanian shouts were a scandalous event

2025-08-07 17:27:00, Politikë CNA

Tour with 4 municipal candidates/ Taravari in Pogradec: Anti-Albanian shouts

The leader of the Alliance for Albanians in North Macedonia party, Arben Taravari, was in the city of Pogradec today, along with the four mayoral candidates, as part of a tour of the southeast of the country.

The focus of the meeting was on discussions on deepening cooperation between the parties, especially on the eve of local elections in North Macedonia. Asked by journalists about the recent events in Skopje, where Macedonian fans used racist chants during the Macedonia-Romania basketball match, Taravari described them as a scandalous event, which has provoked numerous reactions in domestic politics.

"It was a scandalous event, which we have actually commented on by all politicians in North Macedonia, including some Albanian and some Macedonian political parties. I want to publicly thank Albania and Kosovo for the solidarity they showed. This is a trend in recent months that Macedonian nationalism is growing and this is also the reason why the Alliance for Albanians also left the government after three months and now we are in opposition and are preparing for local elections," Taravari said.

He also commented on the Macedonian Prime Minister's offensive statements towards Albanians, a few days before the incident in Kumanovo, and described this as a reflection of domestic policies that, according to him, are increasingly influenced by the ideology of the "Serbian world".

"A few days before the basketball game in Kumanovo, the prime minister spoke in parliament in an insulting manner towards Albanians and this is naturally reflected in the citizens. Also, what he said is also in the EU report that the Serbian world has deeply interfered in North Macedonia and these are consequences of the functioning of the inclusion of the Serbian world in Macedonian politics. The Albanians of Macedonia are divided into two blocs, something that is healthy. There are several parties but divided into two blocs, which is healthier for a society," said Taravari.

From Pogradec, the Alliance for Albanians conveys a clear message for the intensification of regional cooperation and a more determined approach to issues that directly affect Albanians in North Macedonia. On the eve of the local elections, the political force led by Arben Taravari aims to mobilize citizens' support for an opposition alternative, placing dignity and equal representation at the center of the political debate./CNA