No rift within DUI, says Grubi
Skopje, 30 September 2022 (MIA) – First Deputy PM and Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations, Artan Grubi, said Friday that the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) can function without him.
“Not only DUI, but any political party, any institution, any social process can function without any individual. No one is irreplaceable. But we are amid decisive moments and I believe we all need to make a contribution to overcome all the crises we are facing, and contribute to successful implementation of all projects,” Grubi said after Friday’s event on “Civil protection between institutions and citizens”, organized by the Protection and Rescue Directorate. In response to a reporter’s question on whether he attributes DUI’s merits to himself or to the signatories of the open letter by the unsatisfied party members, which calls for his withdrawal, Grubi said he had the least merits, but party leader Ali Ahmeti and the citizens who have voted for the party have the most merit. “All of DUI’s achievements bear the signature of everyone from 2002 to 2022,” Grubi added. He denies there is rift within DUI. “There’s no rift within DUI. You saw the meetings yesterday, everyone stands behind Ali Ahmeti,” Grubi said, adding that “Ali Ahmeti doesn’t need the people, but the people need Ali Ahmeti,” without commenting on accusations against him. According to him, DUI is stronger than ever, and more qualitatively represented than ever in state institutions, implementing all projects. “DUI is stable. At a time when we are facing an energy and price crisis, with the ongoing screening process and a vetting that is more than necessary in politics, among politicians, judges, prosecutors, as well as the fight against corruption and organized crime, when we are facing the screening and the need to open the Constitution with 80 MPs, when we are about to complete the Skopje-Tirana highway, the Skopje-Pristina highway, when we are wrapping up all these projects, we have no need for unnecessary defocusing, and all our force is focused on the implementation of these programs,” said Grubi. As regards reports that Risto Penov will be new minister of local self-government, Grubi said he didn’t know of that. “The colleague Goran Milevski has submitted his resignation. The resignation has to be confirmed by the Prime Minister and at a session of the Parliament, and then the Liberal Democrats should submit a proposal to the Prime Minister, after which the Prime Minister will have to submit the proposal to the Parliament to elect a new Minister of Local Self-Government,” Grubi noted. Some 20 DUI unsatisfied members, including Musa Xhaferi, Izet Mexhiti, Nevzat Bejta, Blerim Bexheti and Visar Ganiu, in an open letter over the weekend demanded a debate within the party to overcome the situation calling on party leader Ali Ahmeti to use his political and statutory authority and find a solution in order to protect the party unity. They accuse Artan Grubi of the party infighting. On Thursday, Ahmeti held a meeting with members of the Chair and Saraj party branches, noting that it has gone well and no situation is irreparable. “The executive power has its problems, the branches and municipalities have other problems, and naturally contradictions arise between these institutions, it’s natural. We discussed with the executive power, heads of branches to settle these misunderstandings. Otherwise, there is nothing to worry about. Talks of a new party are not true,” said Ahmeti, adding that interpersonal relations are above all.
