Tirana, 16 February 2024 (MIA) — Alliance for Albanians leader and current Gostivar Mayor Arben Taravari, who recently announced he would run for president in North Macedonia's upcoming presidential election, told Euronews Albania that he had talked with Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti about his intention to run for President but it was not their idea.

"I talked with Kurti and Rama at a joint meeting, but this was not at their insistence," Taravari said. 

"We are of the mind that there is a real possibility that an Albanian candidate makes it to the second round, showing the value of Albanians in North Macedonia," he said. 

"There was no insistence or support from either Kurti or Rama, although we did talk to them," he added.

He said his decision to run was backed by public opinion polls showing that Albanians, for the first time, had the potential to poll enough votes to enter the presidential runoff.

"Based on the poll results, it turns out it is worth competing and making history in the Republic of North Macedonia," Taravari said. mr/