Skopje, 10 May 2026 (MIA) - The five parties making up the Vlen coalition merged into a single political entity at a congress attended by 850 delegates in Skopje on Saturday evening. The party will have two co-leaders – the Mayor of the Municipality of Chair, Izet Mexhiti, and the Mayor of Tetovo, Bilall Kasami – and was described by its leaders as a party operating from the center-right of the political spectrum. 

Co-leader Izet Mexhiti told journalists Vlen was born as a result of the citizens’ demands for change.

“The citizens were demanding changes as early as ten years ago, but the problem was the opposition. We read that well and we agreed to form the Vlen coalition, and now we are in the Government and representing the Albanians in North Macedonia. After the spectacular victory at the local elections, where we won 70 percent of Albanian municipalities, we worked, discussed all models, and in the end decided that this is the best model for Vlen,” Mexhiti said.

Co-leader Bilall Kasami stressed the Albanians in the country need a politics that builds, plans, and thinks beyond its term. In his speech, he presented what Vlen will stand for and what the party’s priorities will be.

“Vlen needs to become one more Albanian political culture. Calmer, more serious, more institutional, and more responsible to the citizens. We don’t need politics that lives on squabbles. The Albanians need a politics that builds, plans, and thinks beyond its term. That’s why it is important that we say what we stand for. We are a party on the center-right. And we aren’t saying this as something that sounds good on paper, we are saying it because we believe in very clear values,” Kasami said. 

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of European Affairs Bekim Sali stressed that the merging of Vlen into a single entity conveys a clear message of unity and Euro-Atlantic orientation.

“We can have alternatives for everything, but European integration is an orientation that has no alternatives. This is a journey that is built with credible institutions and daily responsibility to the citizens,” Sali said. 

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who was a guest at the congress, highlighted the symbolism of it being held on May 9 – Europe Day.

“It is a reminder that modern Europe was built on the ruins of fascism, supremacy, and wars. The EU was born as a peace project through antifascism and prosperity through democracy. This is especially important for the Balkans,” he said.

The Deputy Chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Luçiano Boçi, described the merging of Vlen as a moment of particular political significance for the Albanians in the region.

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