Statement by the government spokesperson Elisa Spiropali, also State Minister for Relations with Parliament:

Greetings!

First of all, on behalf of the Albanian government and the Prime Minister I regret that our friends from both right- and left-wing parties in the European Parliament are again forced to witness the same old conflict that repeats itself in a new, unfortunately even more unacceptable form than ever before.

I would like to them for the unacceptable reactions of the former opposition MPs who, unfortunately, have deserted their duty, betraying the voters, but also in terms of normal thinking and speaking, flapping their wings of despair.

Desperate people who think desperately and do desperate things.

According to them, Albania is the home of Albanians, while its friends and partners are tourists with a blurred vision. While Albanians are only those who are harming the consumption and economy of the families with the insecurity created by the rhetoric of violence and are shattering Albania in the eyes of the world with the embarrassing images of heads slamming against the wall of institutions.

That’s really too bad!

It’s regrettable because Albania and Albanians do not deserve this harming conflict manifestation just for the sake of Lulzim Basha’s career who fears a defeat in the next election and for the sake of opposition leadership that fears justice.

It’s regrettable because Albania and Albanians do not deserve an opposition in 2019 speaking as it was the year 1919 and behave towards this country’s friends and partners as if it was an organization of the Labour Party in a remote village.

It’s is regrettable because it is time to be together when it comes to the national goal of opening the membership negotiations with the European Union and it is not the case to play “the suicide bomber” to blow up the negotiation process!

However, we can’t choose the opposition and we are here to reach out to the opposition, although it has been hijacked by some persons who turned the opposition’s parliamentary group into a group of deserters.

Meanwhile, we highly appreciate the support European Parliament continues to provide to our country and we thank the both right- and left-wing MEPs, without any distinction, for their unequivocal attitude on the side of Albanians that they want to see our common home in the Union European, not in the courtyard of Lulzim Basha or Monika Kryemadhi.

Through the reporting and oversight missions, just like the European Commission itself, which has been closely observing and thoroughly analysing the governance process and reform efforts in Albania, the MEPs have well understood every aspect of the country’s progress. They know we have a long way to go, but they are not impressed by the opposition’s crazy propaganda and the fictional media stories over scandals and imaginary overthrow.

Their delegation spoke bluntly, dismantling one by one every absurd assumption over a provisional government, illegitimate parliament, emphasized the need for continued parliamentary life and legal replacement of the fugitives, by sharing several simple and basic truths with the public.

The parliament and government are legitimate and properly elected and the electoral problems do not question their legitimacy.

Elections have been free and fair, whereas the provisional government notion is unjustifiable.

Intercepted conversations should be decided by courts, not by parliament.

Boycott, violence and relinquishing MPs’ mandates are unacceptable.

Albania has gone a long way towards normality and progress and its future cannot be taken hostage.

To conclude, I call on my former MP colleagues to reflect and avoid losing more than what they have already lost, not because I am worried about their loss, but because what they are doing on the path to their loss, is not in the best of this our common home.