Berisha: The transitional government must be non-partisan and voted on in Parliament, not chosen by lottery

The leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, commented on the demands that were read out by Dritan Goxhaj during the protest held in Tirana.

He said that he supports, without any hesitation, the immediate resignation of Edi Rama, as well as limiting the prime minister’s term to just two mandates. However, Berisha opposed the idea of a government being chosen by lottery, stressing that it must come from Parliament.

“First, in the demands that were read out, the ones presented by Goxhaj, the immediate resignation of Edi Rama is repeated, a demand that we support without any reservations. Second, the limitation of the prime minister’s term to two mandates is added there. The DP is in full agreement. Starting tomorrow, it is ready to vote in Parliament and to call on citizens to vote for such a measure. Why is this? Because it became clear that Rama does not allow the rotation of power. We are not saying this, international documents are. Then there is one wise solution: let the Constitution remove him. Let me say one thing as a prime minister. If you work for a program, 8 years are absolutely sufficient for you, not for 100% implementation of it, but for implementing its main points and carrying it out to the extent of 80-90%. So, what stands in the case of Edi Rama is that he remains in power without elections. I understand that the protesters want to give such an answer through changing the Constitution.”

Berisha also said that the Democratic Party has been more committed than any other force against those laws and has used every procedural route to oppose them, both in the case of the law on protected areas and on concessions and strategic investments. He recalled that, in this political force’s platform, tax-free investment has been accepted only in mountainous areas.

“A week ago I proposed a non-partisan, transitional government. Not one chosen by lottery. It should be voted on in Parliament. There can be no talk of a government outside the Constitution. I do not step outside the law. I have been a former president, a former prime minister. It must be voted on by Parliament, receive a vote of confidence, and lead the country to elections. I do not understand their proposal for a government outside the Constitution. I understood the demand as a non-partisan one, made up of distinguished experts, well-known intellectuals, on the basis of an agreement, which would receive full confidence. This is the mechanism I know,” Berisha said.