“You’ve seen that every time I am questioned by those who should be spokespersons for public opinion, but unfortunately act as spokespersons for various agendas, they show lists of names, or, as happened with the only remaining opposition, with whom I can have engage in a debate moderated by Blendi Fevziu, they show me an exhibit of photographs to imply that I should feel morally responsible because justice has investigated, is investigating, has accused, and is accusing individuals with ties to the government of the Socialist Party,” said Rama.

“In reality, the exact opposite is true for me. Of course, it doesn’t feel good for personal and human reasons, but because of the commitment I have to the Albanians who have placed their trust in me three times in a row, I am proud that, with a vision for state-building, patriotic courage, and iron-clad will, the Socialist Party—fully aware of the challenges this reform would bring—freed justice from the political grip and gave it the leeway it needed to act without looking to the left or right, but solely ahead,” said Rama.

“My moral responsibility would have been extraordinary if, after seeking your support in 2013 to implement a justice reform and fight corruption, I stood before you today with no concrete evidence of the fight against corruption. Meanwhile, today you have the facts of a real battle against corruption right before your eyes, and it doesn’t take you more than a few minutes to count them name by name.”

“For this reason,” Rama underlined, “I feel very, very good when I stand before you and say: This is another major reason why the vote in the upcoming spring must ensure the Socialist Party’s leadership in Albania, so that the progress in the realm of justice is guaranteed and cannot be reversed.”

“They say we are beheading the opposition. If that were true, the Socialist Party wouldn’t have beheaded so many from its own ranks. Some claim ‘the reform was done by America.’ But America was already there before we even stepped into this sea, and its influential power was the same. The US is also in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo, but only in Albania such a thing became possible. If America had this gift, why didn’t it bring it to us sooner? Because neither America nor the EU could do it without the internal force willing to take on this challenging process,” said Rama.

“I want to remind you that it goes without saying that without the support of the USA and the EU, we wouldn’t have been able to carry out this reform, as we wouldn’t have been able to overcome the relentless resistance from those who today scream from the windows of high-rise buildings, Rama said.

/j.p/sm/