He is the oldest legislator, Berisha refuses to open the new Parliament: I can't afford it, ever!
2025-08-26 14:41:00PolitikëSHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Sali Berisha
After the summer holidays, Albanian politics will return with the start of the new Parliament legislature in September.
Sali Berisha, as the oldest lawmaker, having emerged from the May 11 elections, is, according to the regulations, responsible for chairing this session, but the leader of the Democratic Party has firmly declared that he will refuse this privilege.
In a media conference from the Blue House, Berisha said that he cannot allow himself to open the legislature of a Parliament that, according to him, belongs to the state party.
"I can never, ever open an illegitimate parliament. I cannot do such a disservice to my country. Forget it! If it were legitimate, I would gladly do it, I would have been happy to do it, but this is an illegitimate parliament. It does not represent the will of Albanian citizens, according to all national and international documents. It is a recommendation of the Council of Europe that says; in Albania, the party must be separated from the state. This phrase is enough to show that this is the parliament of the party-state. And how can I open it? How can I allow myself to sit there? Never..." , Berisha said.
The leading democrat further said that he did not discuss this decision with the Democrats, while he did not spare the irony, saying that after him and Tritan Shehu, Prime Minister Rama is probably next in line as the oldest.
"I haven't talked to anyone, but I expressed my opinion. I haven't talked. After Tritan, Edi Rama comes, or who comes? ... I said it wasn't Edi ," Berisha added.
