On Saturday, February 17th, Albanian opposition parties in North Macedonia signed a declaration for the unification of Albanian opposition, which they consider a "significant step towards the unification of Albanian parties" in the country.
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| Albanian Opposition Parties leaders signing the agreement |
The opposition coalition will be named "VLEN," previously known as the European Union for Change (LEN).
"The unity is laying the foundation for a new era among Albanian parties in the country, demonstrating a common unity to face challenges and build a shared vision for the future of Albanians in the country," the declaration said, signed in Skopje.
The declaration was also signed by Bekim Qoku, an advisor to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, whose party supports the Albanian opposition in North Macedonia.
The Self-Determination Movement, led by Kurti, will have its members on the electoral lists for the parliamentary elections to be held in North Macedonia on May 8th.
Part of the opposition are the parties that previously formed the European Union for Change: the Democratic Movement, Alternative, and the Besa Movement. Now, their ranks also include the Alliance for Albanians, led by Arben Taravari.
On Thursday, February 15th, Taravari announced his candidacy for the President of North Macedonia for the April 24th elections.
He has the support of all opposition parties and the Self-Determination Movement.
"I no longer want to mention political opponents; we will fight the political battle against a 22-year-old corrupt system that exiled Albanians, degraded Albanians in every aspect, and destroyed all the value systems that existed among Albanians. Therefore, our opponent is the corrupt system. The movement is coming; the movement will bring change on May 8th," Taravari said.
Before announcing his candidacy, Arben Taravari and other opposition representatives had a meeting in Pristina with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, where the debate topic was also the "need for Albanians to come up with a presidential candidate."
"On April 24th, we will prove and demonstrate that this state has two majorities and dozens of minorities, and as the second majority, we have the intellectual and human capacity to run for the president of this state," declared Izet Mexhiti, one of the representatives of the Albanian opposition.
The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) in power, led by Ali Ahmeti, who will compete against the opposition, has not yet announced whether it will participate with its candidate in the presidential elections or support the candidate of the Social Democratic Union, as in the previous elections.
Parties have until March 19th to announce their presidential candidates.
The presidential elections will be held in two rounds, the first on April 24th, and the second round will be held together with the parliamentary elections on May 8th.