During a meeting with residents of the Fusha e Aviacionit area in Tirana, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha issued a public invitation to Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday, calling for an open debate between the two ahead of the May 11 parliamentary elections.

Berisha stated that, although he has no personal desire to meet Rama, he believes it is important to present their respective platforms to the Albanian people.

“I never have the desire to meet that man, but I tell you here—I invite him to a debate in front of the citizens. Stop with your morning monologues about frogs, lizards, and geckos. Come forward, sir, in any format you like—with journalists, without journalists, with citizens, without citizens. Let’s stand before the public and present our programs for the Albanian people and for Albania,” said Berisha.

He went on to claim that Rama is afraid to face the truth, accusing him of believing his own lies.

“He can’t show up, because I’ve realized—he’s afraid of himself. From morning to night, he believes his own lies. He shows a passport produced thanks to reforms we implemented, and says: ‘Here is the European passport.’ But he forgets that the DNA of integration is the DNA of the Democratic Party. That’s the truth,” Berisha concluded.

The invitation comes just weeks before the official campaign begins, as both parties seek to secure voter trust by contrasting their platforms on key issues.