The leader of “Albania Becomes” Adriatik Lapaj has spoken about the public challenge he has made to Prime Minister Edi Rama to come out in a debate with him.
Invited to A2CNN, Lapaj raised a number of questions, but also gave some answers as to why he is seeking this debate at this moment with the country’s Prime Minister.
“First, we must agree, should there be a political debate in this country? Should the leader of a state come out in a debate before the elections? You are witnesses that he does not allow ministers to come out in debates? Should Albanians have a confrontation of ideas with the one who leads them and those who are the challengers? I believe that there should be. I, as a candidate in these elections who leads a political entity, which may be very small, but may turn out to be medium, but also large. This remains to be seen. Is it right, even on behalf of those I represent, to call the leader of the majority to a debate? I cannot call Rama and say, you come out to debate with Berisha. Would that be logical? I would look like an idiot. I come out and challenge the Prime Minister of my country to a debate in relation to the ideas that the political force that I represent.
I am neither violating Mr. Rama, nor cursing him, nor insulting him, nor threatening him, I am telling him that in a functional democracy, the one who has power must come out to debate with his rivals. Then, if we come to the discussion, do I deserve to be in a debate with the Prime Minister of the country… I ask the question, are the citizens of the Republic of Albania equal before the law? Is there a law on political parties that determines how political parties are organized? Beyond that, do I represent today the thousands of citizens who come to our activities? Do I deserve to be in a debate with Rama, this is determined by the standard that we have set with the people, but that there must be a debate, there must be one”, said Lapaj
