Democratic Party MP and Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Agron Gjekmarkaj, gave an interview for the show "Kjo Javë" on News24, where he addressed a number of developments within the DP, including the by-elections in Tirana and Sali Berisha's role in the party's recovery.
Speaking about the upcoming elections in Tirana, Gjekmarkaj stressed that the Democratic Party has not yet made a final decision on the candidate who will represent the right in the capital. He mentioned the name of Ilir Alimehmeti as a possibility, describing him as an “excellent doctor”, but at the same time expressed reservations, adding that “the Albanian right has many other potential figures”.
"The DP has all the potential to be a winning party. Ilir Alimehmeti is a respected name, but he is not the only one. I don't know if he wants to be part of this race, but we have many names that could emerge as winners," said Gjekmarkaj.
Commenting on the candidacy announced by the Socialist Party, Ogerta Manastirliu, Gjekmarkaj stated that she is "a worn-out figure" and under normal conditions, the opposition would have an easy time winning Tirana.
Berisha, the "statesman" who saved the DP
"Thanks to the energy that Sali Berisha had to gather the party that was falling apart, with epic patience and the vision of a statesman, he managed to reunite the DP and give it the seriousness it has today. This is the second major service after the 1990 revolution," declared Gjekmarkaj.
He accused the majority of dishonest lobbying and external influences that, according to him, aimed at the annihilation of the DP, also mentioning the declaration of Berisha as "persona non grata" as a move to plunge the opposition into crisis.
"The DP was very close to being annihilated. Berisha managed to defend it courageously and this is a major achievement for political pluralism in the country," he stressed.
The May 11 elections: a political farce
Gjekmarkaj said that the recent elections were held in a "minefield," describing them as a farce. He described the situation the opposition finds itself in as unfair, and criticized the constitutional changes made by Edi Rama, which, according to him, have negatively affected the balance of powers.
"If we were in conditions of equality and honesty, we would have won the May 11 elections. But we were not given the opportunity to compete fairly," he said.
Agron Gjekmarkaj, a chameleon in the political oasis
As a reminder, Agron Gjekmarkajt about Sali Berisha, based on his statements and pronouncements over the years:
2021–2022: Reserve and institutional distancing
Cautious attitude towards "non grata": Gjekmarkaj, as part of the DP parliamentary group under Basha's leadership, did not immediately support Berisha's return to the leadership of the DP. He expressed his formal non-recognition of Berisha as president, due to the international consequences of being declared "non grata".
Appeal for reflection and unity in the DP: He was critical of the division within the DP and called for the unity of the right in the face of Rama, without excluding Berisha as an influential figure.
2023: Change of tone and assessment of Berisha's role
He acknowledges Berisha's real weight in the opposition: In September 2023, Gjekmarkaj declared that "Berisha has a real weight in the opposition, which cannot be ignored." He still has reservations about officially calling him "party leader," but acknowledges him as a key factor in the DP.
"Berisha should be part of the opposition": He considers his participation in the opposition project necessary.
2024: Shift to an openly pro-Berisha stance
Apologizes for previous positions: In September 2024, Gjekmarkaj speaks out publicly.
"I apologize for my previous stances towards Berisha. He did not deserve the isolation he was given."
Defends Berisha from house arrest: He calls his detention an injustice, suggesting that the DP should take international initiatives to denounce this situation.
This change reflects a political adaptation, influenced by developments within the DP, the role that Berisha continued to play at the grassroots, and changes in Gjekmarkaj's own positions vis-à-vis the majority.
