Mexhiti Expects Taravari to Leave Government ‘Just Like He Left VLEN’

VLEN co-leader and 1^st Deputy PM Izet Mexhiti has said he expects Health Minister Arben Taravari, who heads one of the two Alliance for Albanians wings, to leave the cabinet “just like he left VLEN”.

“We’ve decided VLEN will be one and collaboration with DUI is not possible”, he stressed.

Asked whether Taravari had attended the previous day’s session of the Government, he said that hadn’t been the case. However, Mexhiti stated that Deputy Prime Minister for Good Governance Arben Fetai, who was part of Taravari’s wing, had been in attendance.

Asked whether it was true there would be a meeting between PM Hristijan Mickoski and Taravari on around 1 May, Mexhiti stated that those were technical matters.

“I’ve said what VLEN’s political stands are. They are that one cannot be with both VLEN and DUI. I think it is not logical for one to be with both DUI and part of the cabinet”, the 1^st Deputy PM underlined.

However, Mexhiti declined to say what would happen if Taravari continued to be part of the cabinet.

“The PM has a legitimate right to collaborate with DUI. However, if that is so, he should make that public and not be shy”, Mexhiti stressed.

Previously, Taravari had responded to VLEN’s criticism by saying on social media that only the people was his compass. When it comes to the process to transform VLEN into one party, it has continued. The presidency will have 23 members. Mexhiti said that his name was among those being mentioned as candidates for the leadership position.