Agron Duka on Veliaj’s transfer to Fier: “There is no state secret; Rama is facing an internal war within the Socialist Party

The head of the Agrarian Environmentalist Party, Agron Duka, said on the Prime News24 program that Erion Veliaj’s transfer from the Durrës remand prison to Fier Prison was not related to any state secret.

According to him, the move was exaggerated and bordering on the absurd. “I do not think any state secret is being concealed behind his transfer. It is grandstanding, even ridiculous. They took him from Durrës to Fier in a single day, and now we have to see how the situation will develop,” Duka said.

Comparing the two correctional institutions, he said that Durrës prison offered easier conditions, while controls were stricter in Fier and communication was much more difficult.

“Durrës prison is known to be more comfortable compared with Fier. There are numerous checks at Fier prison, and using communication channels is very difficult,” said the head of the AEP.

Duka also spoke about Veliaj’s reactions against the transfer, as well as recent political developments and the students’ protests. He claimed that Tirana Mayor, through a social media post and his response to former Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, clearly positioned himself in support of the students, drawing a parallel with the situation in Albania.

“I think Veliaj clearly sided with the student protests through his post, following his response to Vučić. If the names were replaced with Rama’s, the message would be the same. During this period, everyone is protecting Rama. This is not a matter of a principled clash, but of interests that have been affected,” Duka said.

He went on to comment on the situation within the Socialist Party, saying that statements in support of Veliaj also constituted direct signals to Prime Minister Edi Rama.

According to Duka, the clashes within the ruling majority stem not only from political convictions, but also from the interests and influence of various groups. “Rama has used kicks ever since he came to power. At some point, these actions will come back to haunt him, because he is not the prophet he thinks he is. There are also people within the Socialist Party with influence and their own groups. This is an internal war within the same camp. The reactions in Veliaj’s favor are also messages to Rama, which is why I say that the pot is boiling within the Socialist Party as well,” he concluded.