Bashkim Murtezi resigns from all positions in VLEN: I am leaving political life

Bashkim Murtezi, who held the position of head of the Personnel Commission and was a member of the Central Assembly of the VLEN coalition, has announced his resignation from all party posts and his withdrawal from active political engagement.

Through a reflective letter addressed to the leadership structures and members, Murtezi has taken stock of his five-year political journey, starting from the position of organizational secretary in Alternativa, up to leading essential organizational processes and personnel matters within the VLEN coalition.

He described this decision as a natural conclusion of a mission carried out with devotion, paving the way for other energies and generations on the political stage.

BELOW THE FULL LETTER:

“There is a moment to rise, a moment to fight, and a moment to stop and express gratitude to God for what was accomplished with a pure purpose.”

A MEDITATION AFTER A JOURNEY OF RESPONSIBILITY AND PASSION

Dear co-leaders, dear general secretary, dear vice-presidents,

Let me inform you that starting today, July 24, 2026, I have decided to resign from my role as head of the Personnel Commission, from membership in the Central Assembly of VLEN, and from any involvement in politics.

Five years ago I entered political life with an unwavering conviction that transformation is achievable and that a fresh hope could rise above the unjust past. I strongly believed that change should not be waited for but built. I began this journey with the idea that every generation has the right to a fairer and more dignified future and that each of us has a duty towards it. Every day I aimed to act with correctness, ethics, and a clear conscience. Today, with modesty and spiritual harmony, I think that a significant and essential part of that goal has been completed.
As you all know well, from the first moment of my political engagement I clearly stated – I will neither seek nor accept employment, positions, or executive duties. Because in my eyes politics is service, not a profession. The value of an ideal is not measured by ranks or degrees, but by the dedication, sacrifice, and love we offer to people and to the purpose that binds us.
I have always been convinced that someone’s power in politics is not measured by the authority they possess, but by the simplicity with which they serve.
Today, after five years full of engagements, challenges, clashes, and cherished memories, I feel that the moment has come to close this chapter of my political experience. Not as a departure from principle, but as the completion of a duty I have fulfilled with responsibility and dedication.
However, I must emphasize that on this path I have not been alone. I had wonderful people beside me, with faith and heart. I saw looks that believed, hands that worked, and souls that did not break. I stayed with you through late working hours, in the heaviest challenges, in uncertain moments, but also in the joy of our victories.
In the role of organizational secretary of Alternativa, then as a member of the VLEN headquarters in the presidential and parliamentary elections, and finally as head of the Personnel Commission of the VLEN coalition, I had the honor to stand close to our people, our supporters and activists. There I understood a great reality: the true strength of a political force is not found in its headquarters, but in the heart of those who keep it alive. In moments when many predicted our political downfall or destruction, together with determined people we managed to maintain the organization and the spirit that united us. I was part of the initial concept for creating the united opposition – a vision that later materialized with the birth of the VLEN coalition. From the first day of this idea, through every stage of this union, I was present – with ideas, with actions, and with responsibility. In the talks for forming the new government, I was one of those who bore the burden of preserving equilibrium and respect for Albanian representation. In every debate and every agreement, our objective was clear: to protect what rightfully belongs to us and to value the contribution of our citizens and entities.
As head of the Personnel Commission of the VLEN coalition, I acted with integrity and conscience so that this balance would become reality. This dedication resulted in over 2400 employments and hundreds of promotions, ensuring that the representation of Albanians and our subjects was impartial at every level of government. I am fully aware that no success is the product of a single person. Every achievement stems from a team, from a trust, and from a common objective. Therefore, I share every merit with each collaborator in VLEN, with those who stood at the front with conviction and passion.
There is a time to rise, a time to fight, and a time to stop and express gratitude to God for what was accomplished with a pure purpose. However, there is also a time when a person must admit to themselves that the moment has come to give way to someone else. I think my participation has completed its cycle and that VLEN’s journey must continue with new forces and fresh responsibilities.
Naturally, what I will miss most is you. You, the tireless activists of VLEN, who turned out at all times, on every street, and in every meeting. You who sacrificed your families for an ideal. You with whom we shared morning coffee, night fatigue, and the emotions of every challenge. These do not remain mere memories. They are pieces of my soul and I will keep them forever.
I know that no one is perfect. There may have been choices that were not always right, unmet expectations, or human errors. For every such case I sincerely and humbly apologize. Because at the end of the account, peace with oneself and respect for the people with whom you have traveled are the most precious treasure. We are all beings who learn through mistakes, but also grow through forgiving.
I thank each and every one of you in VLEN for the trust, for the support, and for every outstretched hand on difficult days.
I withdraw from functions, but not from the love and loyalty to the idea that united us. Ideas do not need titles. They survive in the people who believe in them and in the traces they leave behind. Every difficulty, every triumph, and every human connection of this path – whether in Alternativa once or now in VLEN – will remain part of my being.
I leave with a peaceful soul, therefore I wish that the success of Albanians and VLEN continues, that every goal of his is achieved, and that this spirit of cooperation is protected.
Although physically I will not be part, I will always be close, ready to speak when I feel the path deviates from our principles, to preserve the honesty, hope, and spirit we have built together.
My concluding message is simple: even in politics we must protect the human side. Trust, respect, and the ability to listen to the other are more precious than any function or duty. Political morality is not a theoretical concept. It is the compass of every decision and every act. When we lose morality, we also lose the people’s trust. Politics without soul and without ideals remains mere noise and emptiness.
Now the time has come for the new generations, those who follow, to carry this path forward with new energy, idealism, and love.

With respect, love, gratitude, and deep peace in the soul!