Although in a fierce battle against each other, Sali Berisha and Lulzim Basha have "come together" against Edi Rama's meeting with immigrants in Greece.
The chairman of the Democratic Party, through a post on social networks, called the meeting "barren nationalism".
"Good luck to the state administration moved to Athens for this expensive excursion of the prime minister who depopulated the country and hinders the vote of those who destroy the streets of the world due to misgovernance and corruption. Barren nationalism is the fig leaf behind which it hides unfulfilled promises to our fellow citizens in emigration, to whom we owe the right to vote an hour ago" , writes Basha.
For former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Rama's message to immigrants in Greece was clear: "I love you very much, but not in Albania."
"Dear friends, the Albanian emigration in Greece disgusted today's meeting of Rama in Athens. Out of 1 million Albanians in the neighboring country, not a single immigrant refused to greet Rama's meeting for his interests and his mind. This total rejection will be recorded in the walls of history as an epic rejection by the real Albanians who immigrated to Greece. I can't get the words out of my heart for what he says to you with his whole being: I love you very much, but not in Albania. Tribute to immigrants and the Albanian diaspora in Greece and wherever they are," writes Berisha.
On the other hand, the democratic deputy, Jorida Tabakur, said that the Albanian immigrants deserve more than that meeting where the attention was not on them, but on Edi Rama.
"Albania cannot forgive itself for turning the diaspora into a theater mise-en-scène to increase the points of those who have treated the diaspora as a spectator of a spectacle to glorify themselves. And this because in 3 mandates he has not ensured even the basic right to vote of the diaspora and its political representation. In 12 years of governance, we have seen all kinds of ministerial arrangements, but never a ministry for the diaspora. Reason? Disregard! Without further talking about real engagements in drafting and engagement in elementary school and schooling for the children of Albanians. Our compatriots deserve more than a plate where the attention is not them but the prime minister. They deserve a platform where they are at the conversation table and not in the clapper's chair.
The diaspora needs to discuss how they can invest in Albania, how their years of insurance have not been lost, they will receive a decent pension and what role it has and will have in our country, since the contribution of the diaspora has historically been valuable! So much so that we should really discuss how it can contribute to revitalizing the economy that is not growing. And they are lost opportunities for 11 years for such debates, and today their sacrifice cannot be used as an electoral flag.
Diaspora is the soul and the second piece of Albania's heart since the renaissance where its contribution has been vital for our nation. Therefore, it is more important than ridicule and political use", writes Tabaku.