Five Albanians participating in Italian elections aiming to change immigrant perception

Economic profession Emiliano ran with the Democratic Party of Renz, in which he was a member from 2014.

I was elected as chairman of “circolo”, District, which includes Venice's territorial area, historical centre, and islands. My candidacy came both as an expression of territorial representation and as a model of integration into the territory, as in Vento the immigration theme is very delicate and would be a response to the wrong perception that is against immigrants”, he tells Top Channel.

But for Renzi's DP, he ran in Trentino Alto Adage another Albanian, Aneta Ngucaj.

In Italy's political life, Elona Gaja, who ran for the Chamber of Deputies with + EUROPA of Emma Bonnino, as it shows in this video for AlbanyNews portal.

I came to little Italy. I studied here in my hometown, which is Perugia. I graduated and worked as a nurse. This year, along with citizenship, I have the opportunity to actively participate in the political life of this country, Italy, which I love”, it relates.

Anita Likmeta was born in Durres and transferred to Italy at the age of 11. In these elections it ran for a new political movement, “10 Volte Meglio”.

I believe in multiethnic and multi-cultural Europe. To see young people in the second generation, but also first, running in political elections, so they start being an active part of this country, despite political parties that see us as a problem, I believe it is a very important factor”, she says.

For the regional elections of Lombardy, 25-year-old Bruna Kola Meche, a political science graduate, ran. It represents a new party, Liberia Uguali, newly created by a faction of Italian Democrats.

But why are Albanians running in Italian politics, and why are parties part of their lists?

This is a sign that we are already part of this country, of this people. After all, if you want the support of a certain part of the population, you must also have the representation of that part of the population. This is a way to attract the electorate, but also to include that electorate”, says Sonia Alushi.

Sonia Alushi is a journalist who also lives with her family across the Adriatic for many years.

There are about 200 thousand Albanians eligible for voting in Italy.