Will she be the number two in the Rama government from September? Grida Duma breaks her silence for the first time

For days, Grida Duma’s name has become one of the most widely discussed in the media and political sphere, amid speculation that the former deputy from Albania’s right wing would become part of the Rama government, even taking one of the most important positions, as the cabinet’s number two.

Over these days, as she herself says, various scenarios have been attached to her name: her position has been decided, her “sponsor” and the “deal” have been found. And as this news has now spread widely, she herself has decided to respond and break her silence.

“Sleep soundly,” was Duma’s response to all those who have included her in their political scenarios. She makes it clear that she has no intention of taking anyone’s place and that, if one day she decides to return to politics, the decision will be entirely hers, and she will do so through “her own door.”

“If one day I make my own decision to enter politics, I will enter through my own door; I will not knock on anyone else’s door to enter politics, nor am I waiting for these invitations and calls, because I have always had, and will always have, my own call to politics. My decision to enter politics will be because I have something to ask of Albania, because I have something to offer Albania at that moment,” Duma said, among other things.

Excerpts from the former deputy’s remarks:

For several days now, my name has been circulating as someone who will become part of the Rama government. They have decided the deal for me, found my sponsor and determined my position. At first, I found it amusing and let it run its course. As news, it is an exercise in patience that I have known for a long time. People talk and speculate, but I have not always responded because I get upset. I should respond when the pack of rumors, in fact, leaves no one a chance to keep the system standing. A system that needs to be reformed in its entirety. Having said that, let me tell you from the outset: sleep soundly, I have no intention of taking anyone’s place. Above all because, if I were to take someone’s place now, at this political moment, it would have been bad for the country, for Albania.

At the outset, I will also tell you in this brief clarifying communication that no one is calling me into politics, and I am not waiting for invitations from others to enter politics. If one day I make my own decision to enter politics, I will enter through my own door; I will not knock on anyone else’s door to enter politics, nor am I waiting for these invitations and calls, because I have always had, and will always have, my own call to politics. My decision to enter politics will be because I have something to ask of Albania, because I have something to offer Albania at that moment. Having said that, for days now ministers, deputies and leaders have been buzzing around, meeting in Pogradec, in the south and in Tirana, thinking that Albanians are focused entirely on their door, on whether white smoke will emerge in this reality of governance under dark clouds, and mistakenly believing that this is what concerns Albanians.

I seriously do not know why Albanians should be concerned about this. Because while these people worry about their positions and their chairs, Albanians have a major concern that they are shouting about everywhere: whether they still have a place in Albania. Whatever the name, whoever the person, even if that individual were a miracle from God, they cannot bring about change alone in this situation. It will take much more than one individual to deliver what Albanians are expecting during these days of rebellion.