To Sali Berisha's public accusations of connections with well-known exponents of the criminal world, former MP Ervin Salianji responds with only one argument: 'You are afraid of competition'. Invited to Albania NewsCast with Arbër Hitaj, former MP Salianji says that Sali Berisha has usurped the Democratic Party and is using it only for his personal interest. He also takes care to remind the woman from Great Britain, who has sanctioned Berisha for connections to organized crime, and publicly asks him why he does not say a word about the businessman wanted by SPAK, Ergys Agasi.
"Berisha is only interested in personal power. He has property. He uses it for his own account. He says if I enter here, I will shoot with a gun. There are borders here, what business do you have with my border. If Berisha continues with this slanderous narrative, I will respond with facts. I have published the British decision where he is sanctioned as being connected to the crime. I have released the GJKKO and SPAK file that does not mention the Agas file," says Salianji.
Salinj denies accusations that he had lunch with the leader of the SP group, Taulant Balla, saying that the only one who has connections to Edi Rama's regime is Sali Berisha himself.
"Sali the armchair has introduced a kind of political flame, what the state security used to do, this one does, he used to sit with this one, he used to have lunch with this one. What business do I have? The only one who meets Balla, Rama as far as I know, is Berisha, because they are in a regime. This one benefits because he keeps the party without support, this one stays in power. They are openly coming out for territorial reform. I have not had and I will not have any, because I have nothing to do with Balla. Why do I need Balla? This one has been left, because he cannot cope with Balla politically, he sees Balla as a character. Balla cannot solve his problems with the government. I have met the gang of Elbasan, Durres, Shkodra. Every person I have met until November 2025 I have met on Berisha's orders and on Berisha's behalf. If it is a man, I will come out and tell you who we met. When the mayor tells me to meet x or y, I know that I do not get criminal records, but I have all of them "met by Sali Berisha, if there were any problems in the past," emphasizes Salianji.
Although Berisha did not allow him to enter the May 23 race, Salianji insists that he has entered this battle to take over the leadership of the DP and that he will do so through the vote.
"Saliu Koltuku says 'I am a hero', these people say hero, they sit like slaves. I am fighting a battle to change a 36-year-old mentality and I am fighting the battle to lead the DP, unlike any political personality who leaves the party when they are not given a function, I was a political leader, a member of the leadership. I do not have a problem finding a position. The goal was for the DP to be a winner, an alternative to bring rotation. I do not find a person who does not say the same things around the tables that I say in public.
"I am in the battle to take over the DP, I will be there and I will take it with a vote. We need to change today, because in a little over a year we will have local elections and I want to avoid the DP going into a catastrophe," continues Salianji.
But what has Salianji achieved so far with the battle against Salikoltuk, as he calls it?
"A perception has been built that this part of old politics causes damage of all kinds and sizes. They have shown that they do. They have not approached me. I have seen many like this, I have endured many over the years and they do not tell me anything that creates any sense of fear in me. Unlike any character he may have faced, he cannot blackmail me, nor threaten me, nor buy me, and he knows this, which is why he speaks nonsense," Salianji replies.
The former MP says that Berisha is clear that he cannot extort him or buy him, which is why he has created a narrative of fabrications against him. When asked if he fears that his life is in danger, Salianji gives this comment.
"A perception has been built that this part of old politics does damage of all kinds and sizes. They have shown that they do. It has not come close to me. I have seen many like this, I have endured many over the years and they do not tell me anything that creates any sense of fear in me. Unlike any character he may have faced, he cannot blackmail me, nor threaten me, nor buy me, and he knows this, which is why he speaks nonsense."
The former MP also clarifies the accusations that Sali Berisha has articulated regarding Fatmir Xhafa, according to which Salianji has been released from prison and has asked him for his opinion on whether he should sign a statement that in order to be released he will not kill the former Minister of Interior.
"If I have a plan to kill someone, why should I go and tell Berisha? To get experience? Then how can the court say, declare that you will not kill anyone? How can this stand?", he emphasizes.
I end the interview with this message for Berisha.
"It is good that he withdraws and lets the DP rise again. Politically, I was telling him: accept the race, set the rules and if you win the race, you have made the election lists yourself, why are you afraid to run? Why are you losing? Run because you are strong. Let's see how much support you have?", concludes Salianji.
