Skopje, 9 February 2024 (MIA) – The party whip of the Alliance for Albanians (AA) in Parliament, Adnan Neziri, said at a press conference Friday that they have the necessary majority in Parliament to name Ilir Demiri and Naim Bajrami as new minister of health and minister of information society and administration, replacing current ministers Azir Aliu and Fatmir Mexhiti, who come from the same party.

“Yes, we have a majority and this issue will be completed today,” said Neziri.

Speaking about Thursday’s gathering of the Alliance for Albanians in Kumanovo, held by party leader Arben Taravari, Neziri stressed that the meeting was illegitimate according to the party’s Statute. He claimed the gathering was attended by less than 40 members of the party's assembly, as opposed to 75 – the number stated at yesterday’s meeting.

“That event wasn’t an assembly, in accordance with the Statute, it [the party’s assembly] can only be summoned by the chair of the assembly within a deadline of seven days. The legitimate assembly of the Alliance for Albanians will convene on Saturday at 1pm in Skopje. That’s legitimate, based on the Statute and legal procedures,” said Neziri.

The AA lawmaker underscored that the party isn’t divided, but, he said, the party leader is separated from the party since “his communication wasn’t in line with the procedures and the rules of the party”.

“The party has its bodies, and they weren’t respected. Communication through a Facebook post isn’t real communication and not the kind of communication that should be had according to the Statute and the other responsibilities of the party leader. The central presidency of the party made a decision that he had to discuss with the central presidency and things should be adopted on the basis of real procedures, and not through Facebook. The party doesn’t communicate through Facebook, it has its bodies, it is a collective decision, and that’s why these party bodies exist,” said Neziri.

According to Neziri, there is no possibility of the Alliance for Albanians splitting into two since, he said, the party’s central presidency will meet and decide that there is only one Alliance.

Asked if the party will demand Taravari’s resignation at Saturday’s assembly, Neziri said the party leader should attend and be held accountable, adding that he is obliged to do so as a member of the party’s assembly.

Taravari's supporters within the party held on Thursday what they described as a consultative meeting of the central assembly. After the meeting, AA’s Blerant Ramadani said that 75 representatives of the assembly had given their support to Taravari over a coalition with the opposition of ethnic Albanian parties.

Photo: MIA