Arguments have erupted in the Albanian capital after an agreement on migration signed between Italy and Albania. Albania's opposition parties have attacked the Prime Minister Edi Rama about the deal.
The Albanian opposition has entered the battlefield against Prime Minister Edi Rama due to the signing in Rome of an agreement on migration with his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.
Despite expressing "gratitude towards Italy for what it has done over the past 33 years to support us, we are not yet ready to undertake such a step," wrote Deputy Parliament Speaker Agron Gjekmarkaj, who is a member of the Democratic Party (DP).
'PM does not have a mandate to negotiate with any country'
Gjekmarkaj added that, "the Meloni government is under a great deal of pressure in relation to the management of the crisis" resulting from a large influx of migrants but "the Rama government should not shift this crisis onto Albania."
Facilities to house migrants at the Shengjin port, he also warned, would "wash away the dream of this important seaside location in the northern part of the country developing tourism."
DP chief Lulzim Basha in turn lashed out at what he sees as a lack of transparency from the Prime Minister who "does not have any mandate to negotiate with any country: Italy is our ally and partner, a friendly country, but here we are talking about national interests."
Basha went on to accuse Rama of being to blame for Albanians fleeing abroad, "while deciding to allow illegal migrants to arrive here. This is unacceptable."
Rama accused of signing accord 'for his own shadowy interests'
Rama signed the agreement "only for his own shadowy interests", claimed former rightwing prime minister Sali Berisha.
Petrit Vasili from the Freedom Party of former president Ilir Meta claimed the current Albanian Prime Minister is "using the country as if it were his own private property. A trader willing to trade the country's interests in exchange for dishonest support and influence peddling."
Albanian media have also been reporting on the political disputes that the agreement has fostered in Italy. In Albania, the media has reminded the populace that in November 2021, Rama actually declared opposition to this kind of deal, saying, "Albania will never be a country in which other wealthier countries can set up camps for their refugees."