Faton Pollozhani of DUI was a guest on the PodGo program, where he spoke about local governance in Struga, DUI and the Government of North Macedonia.

According to him, Struga faces difficulties similar to those of other cities across the country, with infrastructure, landfills and other issues among the main problems.

Pollozhani said that DUI, as an opposition force at the local level, does not seek to portray the situation only in a negative light. However, he stressed that the projects currently being implemented in Struga began during the previous mandate and are strategic initiatives spanning several years.

“The projects being implemented were approved through the government’s call and the Hungarian loan. Meanwhile, none of the projects promised by the current mayor of Struga has been initiated. He had promised multistory parking facilities and new kindergartens,” Pollozhani said, describing governance in Struga as chaotic and lacking a vision for the future.

Speaking about political developments, he said that DUI is prepared for elections and that holding early elections is essential.

“Early elections are mandatory because we must return to the issue from which the problem stems. In the last parliamentary elections, the will of Albanian citizens was brutally violated, while the party that won the election was unfairly left in opposition. This is one of the reasons that should lead the country to elections, so that the legitimacy of the citizens is respected,” he said.

Regarding VLEN’s representatives in the government, Pollozhani said that they had not completed any of the projects they had promised citizens.

“VLEN is doing nothing in power. DUI has the capacities and personnel to accomplish things better than they can, as we have demonstrated before. It was DUI that created the conditions for North Macedonia to be led by an Albanian prime minister. For two years, VLEN has fulfilled none of the commitments it undertook and promised to citizens. Instead of working, they are trying to impose a rhetoric in which the past is blamed for every problem,” Pollozhani said.

Asked about the situation within DUI, he said that the decisions made at the party’s most recent congress required particular courage.

“We in DUI are not against one another. We must all contribute to strengthening the party. What DUI did at its most recent congress, where it changed more than 80 percent of the party structures, is a step that few parties or political leaders would have had the courage to take,” Pollozhani said.

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VLEN MP Saranda Imeri-Stafai was a guest on the “PodGo” show, where she spoke about governance, her experience in BDI, VLEN’s functioning and the situation in the Municipality of Gostivar, where she comes from.

During the interview, she stated that the VLEN coalition is facing a series of inherited problems, as according to her, many issues have not been properly handled by previous governments. Imeri-Stafai also said that she is satisfied with her work so far as an MP and that, in case of elections, she will face the citizens openly.

“VLEN is facing inherited problems. There are many issues that are regulated one way in law, but are implemented differently in practice. With OBRM-PDUKM coming to power, these problems are being exploited and the responsibility is falling on us. In 2020 I distanced myself from BDI due to internal disagreements. I am an open person and I communicate with people. So far I am proud of the work I’ve done in Parliament and outside it. When it comes to services for citizens, I do not make party distinctions,” she said.

Speaking about relations with OBRM-PDUKM, the MP said that despite the strength of this party, cooperation between coalition partners has been good. She hopes that this relationship will continue until the end of the mandate.

“OBRM-PDUKM is a strong force, but that does not mean it does not treat us as coalition partners. So far we have had very good cooperation and I hope we continue like this until the end. During the BDI-OBRM-PDUKM period, laws were passed without any consultations at all,” Saranda Imeri-Stafai stated.

Regarding the situation in the Municipality of Gostivar, she said that the local government is in great financial difficulty and has a high level of debt.

“The Municipality of Gostivar is in a dire state and sunk in debt. For small works, contracts have been signed at three times the value. Recently I’ve been making these contracts public. The problems are many,” the MP said.

Imeri-Stafai also spoke about the way VLEN functions, describing this entity as a factor that has brought great change in Albanian politics. In this context, she also mentioned the cooperation between Izet Mexhiti and Bilall Kasami.

“VLEN works excellently. If we need to look for an example of how this coalition should function, it is the parliamentary group. Izet Mexhiti and Bilall Kasami have very good communication and I often see them cooperating. It is not necessary to always follow others’ models. With its co-chairs, VLEN has brought a revolution to the Albanian political scene,” she said.

As for the perspective of North Macedonia, the MP said she imagines the country closer to the European Union in a few years.

“North Macedonia is a problematic state. First it had the name issue, and now it faces problems related to history and the church. In 2030 I see North Macedonia closer to the EU. However, I want to see the country in that year with strong institutions, with economic development and with better conditions for our young people,” Saranda Imeri-Stafai stressed.

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He described the country’s economic situation as serious, adding that the lack of public funds could force the Government to call early elections.

“Facing this economic reality will push the executive towards the ballot boxes. This move would serve to buy time, because they lack a clear plan to improve the situation. The state coffers are empty. We closed the year with an 8% drop in revenue, an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of our modern state, and this was confirmed by the budget revision. The situation is alarming and is reflected in the business sector, which is suffering from a lack of liquidity. In previous crises, citizens did not feel the shortage of money, but now the crisis is real,” Bytyqi stated.

Speaking about SDSM, he stressed that the party is undergoing a reform process.

“What is happening now, according to him, is part of the SDSM reform that began two years ago. I have always been critical and honest during this phase, seeking to open the party to all those who share the same principles and ideology. I am not involved in the party’s restructuring, I am its MP. The polls are part of this reform process and they show a decline in citizens’ interest in participating in elections,” he added.

Regarding the incident of Albanian MPs being stopped in Albania, Bytyqi called it a negative signal from both sides.

“We go to the homeland as their children. Even when I was not in politics, I did not interfere in their internal politics. This is a bad signal from both the mother state and from those who hold official positions. We have a lot of work to do here,” he said.

As for the VLEN coalition, Bytyqi had a clear piece of advice for them regarding their governing partner, VMRO-DPMNE.

“I advise them to be tougher at the negotiating table with their partners and to clearly show that they have crossed the line. VMRO-DPMNE came to power with a narrative of superiority, where they are above and others are subservient. The citizens of this country belong to different ethnicities, but they deserve to be treated equally. VMRO-DPMNE must understand that it must treat all citizens equally, otherwise it will soon face problems in its governance,” Bytyqi concluded./Telegrafi/

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Regarding the government reshuffle, Azizi said it is not appropriate to speak at this stage, as talks are still ongoing. According to her, it will be the leaders of VLEN who will appear before the public to announce the names and the respective ministries.

“It is incorrect for us to speak while the talks are underway. The leaders themselves will come out to communicate the names and the ministries. And I would leave it for us to hear it from the leaders,” Azizi stressed.

Speaking about the issue that has resurfaced in recent days over street names in Tetovo, she said citizens should clearly understand that the names were not removed by Bilall Kasami, who, she added, is working to resolve this problem.

“The public should know that Bilall Kasami did not remove the names. The names were brought to the municipal council in 2007, and 20 years have passed since then. DUI has had entire governments, and I cannot understand how they were unable to resolve this issue. The decision was made by the municipality, and there should also have been a decision by the Government, and now they are protesting, just like children when they do something wrong. They know the problems they left behind, and it is as if the solutions are only half-finished, and now they are protesting against themselves,” Azizi said.

As for claims that VLEN is being suppressed by VMRO-DPMNE, Azizi rejected these assessments, listing several projects and decisions that, according to her, prove the opposite.

“Maybe they see us as being oppressed by VMRO-DPMNE, but that is not true. How are we weak when we are completing the Skopje–Blace road, when we have accelerated work on Corridor 8, are building the most modern campus of Mother Teresa University, have allocated 20 million euros for Skanderbeg Square, are resolving the issue of Jurisprudence, have increased salaries in the police and healthcare sectors, and have raised pensions? In 24 months, we have done what they did not do in 24 years,” Azizi stressed.

The interview also addressed the Law on Fair and Adequate Representation, about which Azizi said that after 24 years, a law is finally being advanced that aims to regulate this issue.

“The Law on Fair and Adequate Representation belongs to the government, and VLEN has done a lot for this. We do not work as individuals; we work as a group. The law is in Parliament and under debate, including whether there will be amendments. For the first time after 24 years, a law is being introduced that will regulate the issue of fair and adequate representation. The law has sanctions; the greatest punishment that can happen is political punishment. It has a supervisory body, and the head of this body is the first deputy prime minister. This body will have full oversight and will see which institution does not respect this law,” Azizi stressed.

Venera Azizi took part in the 100th edition of PodGo and on this occasion also brought a gift for the newsroom, wishing that there would be many more programs to come./Telegrafi/

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According to Snopçe, the Alliance for Albanians’ union with VLEN did not fulfill its intended goal, although, as he said, change was achieved by sending DUI into opposition.

“Our aim was to change the status quo. DUI had been in power for 20 years and young people had lost hope, which is why this major migration happened. We were the ones who brought down Gruevski, the three MPs of the Alliance for Albanians. Even though we did not manage to achieve our goal, after a short time we left the Government,” he said.

Snopçe said the problem emerged during the period when they were in power, when they decided to join the Albanian opposition with the idea of bringing in a new political lineup and with the conviction that things would develop differently.

“The change did not come. It was a movement that restored hope to the citizens. We sent DUI into opposition. But the agreement we made with VMRO-DPMNE and Mickoski was not implemented. In fact, that dogma of ‘Macedonia of the Macedonians’ became even more apparent, and the trampling and campaign against Albanians began. VMRO-DPMNE started behaving like a dominant force. I was the first to say that if the trampling of Albanian interests continues, we will leave the government,” Snopçe said.

Regarding the possibility of new parliamentary elections, he said that everything depends on Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski.

“This issue depends on Hristijan Mickoski. He has the numbers. But he says there will be no constitutional changes. I think he will call elections, since this is his last mandate and he cannot maintain this party rating. I think there should be elections for many reasons. We have an economic crisis, we have debts, and he will keep this party rating. In my opinion, by the end of the year we will have a technical government, while in the spring of next year there will be elections,” Snopçe said, adding that the agreement with AKI will continue further as well, in case there are new early elections./Telegrafi/

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