Skopje, 16 February 2026 (MIA) - Asked during Monday's press briefing to comment on Alternativa's positions regarding a merger of Vlen coalition into a single political entity, Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi, who comes from the ranks of this party, said he fully backs current Alternativa leader, Bekim Sali, who is also First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs.

Gashi said the party's position is that the merger of Vlen into a single political party should be based on the principles of equality and consensual decision-making, sidestepping the question of whether Alternativa agrees on delegated seat quotas in the party's bodies and in the government, as some media report.    

According to him, Alternativa is more concerned with principles, what Vlen will stand for and its program, rather than who will lead the party.

"Vlen should move towards consolidation and the Albanian bloc should stabilize and have two blocs, like the Macedonian one. We are looking into the best way to do that," he stressed.  

Gashi noted that the announced government reshuffle was not connected to the ongoing processes in Vlen. 

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