Albanian opposition united in northern Macedonia

Albanian opposition parties in northern Macedonia on Saturday, February 17th, have signed the declaration of the Albanian opposition union, which they estimate as a key <x0-step towards unifying Albanian parties” in this state.

Opposition coalition to name “VLEN”, while so far it was called the European League for Change (LEN).

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The declaration is also signed by Bekim Qoku, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's adviser, whose party supports the Albanian opposition in northern Macedonia.

The Vetevendosje movement, led by Kurti, will have members on the election lists for parliamentary elections to be held in northern Macedonia on May 8th.

Part of the opposition are the parties that so far constituted the European League for Change: The Democratic Movement, Alternatives, the Besa Movement. Now part of them is the Alliance for Albanians, which is headed by Arben Taravari.

Taravari on Thursday, February 15th, announced the candidacy for president of Northern Macedonia for the April 24th elections.

He has the support of all opposition parties and the Vetevendosje Movement.

“I no longer want to mention political opponents, we will make the political battle with a 22-year-old rotten system that sent Albanians away, humiliated Albanians in every respect, destroyed and destroyed the entire system of values that existed in Albanians. So our opponent is the rotten system. The movement is coming, the Movement will bring about change on May 8th”, Taravari said.

Prior to the candidacy announcement, Arben Taravari and other opposition representatives had had a meeting in Pristina with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, where the debate had also been “nevoja for Albanians to come up with a candidate for president”.

On April 24th, we will testify and demonstrate that this state has two majoritys and dozens of minorities, and we as the second majority have the intellectual, human capacity to compete for president of this state”, said Izet Mexhidi, one of the Albanian opposition representatives.

The ruling Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), led by Ali Ahmeti, who will race against the opposition, has not yet indicated whether he will participate with his candidate in presidential elections or support the Social Democratic League candidate, as in last elections.

The parties have deadlines to announce candidacys for president by 19 March.

The presidential elections will be held in two rounds -- the first on 24 April -- while the second round will be held along with parliamentary elections on May 8th. / REL