The clash between Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha and former MP Ervin Salianji has now turned into a frontal clash, where both protagonists have not spared accusations against each other.
It was initially the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, who attacked Ervin Salianji during today's press conference.
Asked by journalists whether Salianji would be allowed to run in the elections for party leader, Berisha said that he is self-excluded and has been politically adopted by the SP.
"The self-excluded is the self-excluded, it doesn't change anything. Now, why this or that politically adopts this or that, that's none of my business. Adoptions have happened and happen at all times. Let those who adopt them rejoice. That's it. They adopted him. He's gone, he's gone. They adopted him, if he hadn't been adopted, he would have been him. He chose adoption himself, he's gone, he's gone," Berisha said.
He also recounted a conversation with Salianji before he was released from prison.
"One day he comes to my office from prison, saying it's good that we opened the conversation, and he says, I came to get your opinion. What opinion, I say. Order, I received him well. Of course, we have done everything to qualify him as a political prisoner and he fully deserved it. What opinion? Now, he says, I have three months left in prison. To get out, I have to go out according to the law, but they are asking for a statement in which I have to guarantee that I will not kill Fatmir Xhafa. Who is asking this? The court and the prison administration are asking me. I tell him, yes, you are a political prisoner. You have nothing to do with Fatmir Xhafa, you did not fight, you were not insulted, you were not beaten by Fatmir Xhafa. Since you are asking me, I advise you not to make such a statement because you will take the blame in this. Saying that I do not intend to kill Fatmir Xhafa means that Fatmir Xhafa imprisoned you because you threatened him.
This is the truth. Of course, he was in prison and I could not take on more than that. My advice is that you do not sign it because this incriminates you and you are young in your career and you have a career ahead of you. Okay, he said. He left. He came, he came. What did you do with that? No, he said, they did not ask me anymore. Now, read the rest for yourself. So, it is not my responsibility for what is adopted politically here or there, or here and there. He has made his choice", said Berisha.
Ervin Salianji responded to Berisha's accusations with fire.
"In the absence of votes, he invents labels. In the absence of competition, he declares himself 'self-excluded'. The more he talks about exclusions, the clearer his fear of competition becomes ," Salianji writes in a Facebook post, which emphasizes that Berisha talks about democracy, but is the first to be afraid of it.
"The Democratic Party is not a private club where entries and exits are decided by the mood of one person, but a political force that must function with rules and with the vote of its members. Ironically, the one who talks about democracy is the first to be afraid of it. I do not need blessings, nor permission. I only have one request: open competition and free voting. The rest is noise to cover up fear. And fear is good because it has abused its function for personal and business interests! Democrats want a winning Democratic Party!"
Salianji also commented on Berisha's statement about a conversation between the two before he was released from prison, emphasizing that the leader of the democrats is ashamed and that he could not imagine falling to this level, while there was also an invitation for SPAK.
"As for the worry he has about 'killing' Xhafa, his subconscious tells him that he is worried about 'killing' Rama with his vote. The man has time to be ashamed his whole life, but to fall to this level is unimaginable and unthinkable, as not even his fiercest opponents wish! Slanders like this show how great his fear and despair are, the accusations of murder are known to be on his back, as well as showing a murderous mentality because someone who listens to these conversations and does not denounce them speaks for themselves! Since he is supporting SPAK during this period, I am ready and I call on SPAK to launch an investigation for attempted murder or failure to report a crime," he added.