Skopje, 16 April 2025 (MIA) - The Vlen (Worth It) coalition believes that the decision of the Alliance for Albanians (AA) bloc of Arben Taravari to run with separate lists of candidates for council members has been made in the interest of DUI, the essence of which the public will understand very quickly, Democratic Movement leader and Deputy Prime Minister in the Government, Izet Mexhiti, said after Wednesday's meeting of the leaders and top officials of the coalition.

According to Mexhiti, Vlen has not excluded Taravari from the coalition, but he has excluded himself from the coalition. Mexhiti says that Taravari's action also means a problem in the Government, but he has no answer for now whether they will seek Taravari's dismissal from the post of health minister.

The meeting of the Vlen coalition comes after Taravari announced that he and his fellow party members had decided they would run alone at the October local elections.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, which was also attended by Besa leader Bilal Kasami and Alternativa leader Zeqirja Ibrahimi, Mexhiti said that Taravari will have to explain his actions to the Albanians, as well as to Vlen's voters. According to him, it has already been agreed how Vlen will run in the local elections, and Taravari's decision to run with his own lists in the elections is neither based on the views of the party base nor on the opinion of the voters of the Alliance for Albanians nor on independent surveys, but is in the interest of DUI.

Mexhiti said the Vlen coalition decided today to run jointly in the local elections in terms of both lists of candidates for council members and mayoral candidates, adding that in the coming days joint election headquarters will be formed for a joint run in the upcoming elections.

In the coming days, Mexhiti noted, the coalition will also give information about political reorganization of the structure and the strategy of Vlen for the upcoming elections.

"I call on all members, supporters, voters and officials of AA to distance themselves from Taravari's divisive politics, sponsored by DUI and other exponents of the oligarchy, and to remain in the Vlen coalition because autumn brings a new victory and a new political scene," said Mexhiti. 

The Democratic Movement leader came out with claims that Taravari has been in negotiations with DUI leader Ali Ahmeti for several months, with involvement of certain figures from the oligarchy. According to Mexhiti, the goal was to disunite the coalition and bring the Democratic Union for Integration back from clinical death.

"What the price of this operation was and whether it was worth it, will be known very soon" said Mexhiti. 

As regards whether AA and Taravari will remain part of Vlen, Mexhiti said that Taravari is practically excluding himself from the coalition with the steps he is taking.

"You have a statement from Taravari that there is an offer from Vlen of 35-40 percent in favour of AA. So, neither that was enough for him. Despite the fact that all political arguments were absolved and AA was favoured once again, the offer was not important to him, the negotiations with Vlen were not important to him because he has an agreement with DUI and in a way he has excluded himself. This coalition is composed of five political stakeholders and we have had negotiations for all decisions, there have also been different opinions but in the end we have a common position. There has never been outvoting, and in no case has one political party made the decision. There is especially lack of arguments in this case, and going with separate lists does not hold up. We are with the big ones, but he wants to be in the function of DUI," Mexhiti said. 

Photo: MIA