Former Minister of Interior Fatmir Xhafaj said that he is way past the fact that he was number 23 on the Socialist Party’s candidate list, adding that he is willing to pursue his political battle even he was “candidate number 31”.

In an interview with Ilva Tare on Euronews Albania, the former minister weighed in on the importance of having the “opportunity to win another mandate as a lawmaker” and “pursue his political battle”, as opposed to his place on the list of candidates.

For that, Xhafaj said that he would have accepted heading into the electoral race even he’d been placed as 31st on the list.

“[…] I’d have accepted the challenge and I told the leader [Edi Rama] during the party’s presidency meeting, that I accept the challenge”, said Xhafa. “To me, it does not matter who I am, but what I do, and I’ve begun a battle that I want to pursue till the end”.

The question that followed sought more clarification over his strong statement, to which Xhafaj responded “the battle for justice”.

“In the name of that cause I’d be ready to run even as the 31st on the party’s list and continue to fight”, said Xhafaj while emphasizing that candidates can be voted directly via the new system.

In line with that, Xhafaj expressed his confidence that in the capital a public person can surpass the necessary threshold to win a mandate.

“[…] I believe that even in my case, I will reach and surpass the necessary threshold and become a lawmaker again”, insisted Xhafaj.

The former minister said that after learning that he had been placed as number 23 on the list he sought clarification for the reasons behind this decision.

He said that the first to come forward with a clarification was Erion Veliaj, as the political leader of the Socialist Party for the district of Tirana, and then PM Edi Rama.

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