Skopje, 19 July 2023 (MIA) – MP Izet Mexhiti, who announced on Monday that he and Merita Koxhaxhiku are leaving DUI to form a new political movement, to which independent MP Kastriot Rexhepi is also joining, said the three will vote in favor of the constitutional amendments. 

"There is no dilemma as to how the three of us will vote. We will vote in favor of the constitutional amendments. The amendments are our top priority and main focus because the only alternative is EU integration, to prevent the emigration of young people and to have a perspective here, in the country. How the country moves forward depends on the epilogue of the constitutional amendments," Mexhiti said in an interview with TV24 on Wednesday. 

If the constitutional amendments fail, Mexhiti noted, "a way opens to consider whether to go for early or regular elections", adding that they will neither have a problem even if snap elections are called.

According to Mexhiti, the new entity in the Albanian political bloc that they have initiated, which does not yet have a name, is opposition-oriented, but they will support all the proposals of the government that are in the interest of the citizens.

Mexhiti expects support to increase by other MPs joining in, noting that they could also come from the ranks of the ruling majority. 

"Currently, there's three of us. There are talks of other MPs joining, not necessarily only from DUI," said Mexhiti. 

He mentioned that he also held meetings with the leaders of the opposition Besa and Alternativa, Bilal Kasami and Afrim Gashi, and he does not see any obstacle to more intensive cooperation and unification around ideas and an offer that will attract voters, building a common platform and an opposition Albanian front. 

As regards the fact that he chose to leave DUI unlike the others from the "Fiery Group" who remained a faction in Ali Ahmeti's party, Mexhiti said they have chosen different paths, adding that he has decided on such a step because "DUI has lost touch with reality".

Asked to comment on today's police operation in which former Public Revenue Office (PRO) official Ismet Guri was arrested, Mexhiti refused to go into the case, pointing out that "the timing was chosen to shift focus and put pressure".  

Photo: MIA archive