After the protest of the Albanian Opposition on February 16, the Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama didn't denied the problems of his country.
In an exclusive interview to the Italian Corriere Della Sera, Rama admits the problems such as the corruption, justice, youth dissatisfaction, and drug trafficking.
"But the Government is doing of what nobody else had the courage to do to eliminate these diseases from the Albanian society," Rama says.
Full interview:
Prime Minister, international organizations emphasize the disturbing level of corruption in Albania.
"Of course , there is corruption in Albania. But I can also say that this government is doing its best to eradicate it."
Yes, but you are the head of the Government for five and a half years.
"Let me say that we are fully devoted to justice reform: as never before, we are fighting so much corruption and we are working to make the public administration immune against bribery."
Are You Successful?
"It is clear that it is a long struggle: the results cannot come immediately".
Macroeconomic data show that the unemployment is falling, even among young people. But among youth there is dissatisfaction...
"Today, Albania shows very positive trend, just read the World Bank figures. This does not mean that we have lost unemployment or have solved the problems of young people, but that means we are on the right track."
And then there are judges who issue court judgments in exchange for bribes. What are you doing in this regard?
"What no one has had the courage to do in the country and in the Balkans, which is also emphasized by the European Union. We are doing a reform that removes corrupt magistrates and judges from the courts. "
Another problem is drug trafficking that continues to be widespread in different parts of the country ...
"I cannot deny this. But just a few days ago, the Guardia di Finanza presented the 2018 report on the fight against cannabis in Albania and the results are excellent, as far as the phenomenon is being fought by my Government. "
The student protests a few weeks ago made you to change some of your executive ministers. Does this mean that the event had an impact on you?
"It was a sincere challenge, where university students denounced real problems. That is why we listened and tried to accept their criticisms."
Saturday's demonstration and attempted attack to your office have made the "turnaround" of the world. What is happening now in Albania?
"Nothing is happening. There is probably a deep opposition crisis that is not able to challenge politically the government. This minority is weaker than the 2017 elections: if we went to the polls tomorrow, they would receive fewer votes."
"But the opposition, led by Lulzim Basha, the leader of the Democratic Party, is being organized against you and accusing you of: fraud in elections and corruption. He says you are linked to organized crime."
"Nor do I answer these charges. I'm just worried because this muddle policy does not help either them or the country. I hope that as soon as possible, the reason prevails against despair. "
The opposition calls for your resignation. What do you intend to do?
"I do not even think so. I had a clear mandate by the people, we have a clear majority in Parliament and in the end I have an obligation to my compatriots. I am not obliged to follow the demands of the parliamentary minority. The only obligation is the contract with the Albanian people who gave us the vote to govern."
So, after what happened on Saturday, Italian and foreign entrepreneurs should not be afraid of anything?
"No. The only thing that the opposition did was to give to Albania a negative image with absurd violence, but with a frustrating result. The only concrete consequence was the destruction of an artwork, a fungus, located at the yard of the Government building."