Three leaders of Albania’s emerging opposition movements have rejected Sali Berisha’s invitation to unite against Prime Minister Edi Rama, exposing deep divisions over the leadership, strategy and political direction of the opposition.
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An appeal by Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha for opposition unity has been met with rejection by three prominent figures representing Albania’s newer political movements. Adriatik Lapaj, Agron Shehaj and Arlind Qori have all ruled out joining a political coalition with the Democratic Party under Berisha’s leadership, although their arguments reflect different approaches to challenging the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The responses came during their appearance on the television programme Të Paekspozuarit, broadcast by Vizion Plus on November 5, following Berisha’s renewed public invitation to opposition forces to join together and remove Rama from power.
On November 5, Berisha declared that he was ready to cooperate with any political actor willing to unite against the government, saying he was prepared to begin discussions immediately and had no prejudices against other opposition groups.
However, his proposal encountered resistance from all three politicians.
Adriatik Lapaj Calls for Both Rama and Berisha to Leave Politics
Adriatik Lapaj, leader of the political movement Shqipëria Bëhet (Albania Becomes), argued that both Edi Rama and Sali Berisha should withdraw from the political scene, saying that neither had anything further to offer the country.
Lapaj nevertheless made a distinction between Berisha as a political leader and the Democratic Party's electorate, stressing that he did not equate the opposition leader with ordinary Democratic Party supporters.
“I cannot put an equals sign between Berisha and the Democrats,” Lapaj said.
His position suggests that an alternative political movement should seek to engage voters across traditional party lines rather than simply establish an agreement between existing party leaders.
Lapaj also referred to the upcoming local elections, scheduled for May 9, as an opportunity to create a broader political alternative involving citizens, young people, students and candidates emerging from protest movements and newer political organisations.
He argued that cooperation should be built around citizens and democratic representation rather than automatically becoming an agreement among party leaders.
Agron Shehaj Says Coalition With Berisha Would Not Help Defeat Rama
Agron Shehaj, leader of the Mundësia Party, also rejected Berisha’s invitation, arguing that an alliance with the Democratic Party would not bring the opposition closer to removing Rama from power.
“If we accepted Sali Berisha’s invitation, we would not remove Edi Rama,” Shehaj said, explaining that such a coalition would not represent an effective strategy for defeating the government.
Shehaj also recalled that he had rejected a similar invitation from Berisha ahead of the 2025 parliamentary elections.
He said that the decision had not been motivated by personal ambition or a lack of patriotism, but by the belief that entering such an alliance was not politically justified.
According to Shehaj, the opposition should take into account the demands of protesters who are calling for a break with the established political parties.
His position reflects a strategy centred on maintaining the political independence of Mundësia rather than joining a coalition led by the Democratic Party.
Arlind Qori Sees Berisha and Rama as Part of the Same Political System
Arlind Qori, leader of Lëvizja Bashkë (Together Movement), delivered the strongest rejection of Berisha’s proposal.
Qori argued that the Democratic Party leader and Prime Minister Rama represent different sides of the same political system, making cooperation with Berisha unacceptable for his movement.
Although he described Rama as potentially the worst ruler Albania has had, Qori called Berisha his political brother.
“Edi Rama is perhaps the worst ruler we have had, but Berisha is his political brother,” Qori said.
He also accused the two political leaders of sharing interests with oligarchs and construction groups, allegations that reflect his broader criticism of Albania's established political and economic structures.
Qori questioned the timing of Berisha’s invitation, pointing out that the Democratic Party leader had attacked him publicly only days before extending the offer of cooperation.
He also ruled out any political alliance with either the Socialist Party or the Democratic Party.
Opposition Unity Faces Political and Strategic Obstacles
The three responses highlight the difficulties facing Berisha's attempt to bring Albania's opposition forces together against the Socialist-led government.
While all three politicians oppose Rama's government, they disagree with Berisha over the political leadership and structure of a possible opposition alliance.
Lapaj advocates the withdrawal of both established leaders while seeking to engage Democratic Party voters in a broader alternative. Shehaj argues that an alliance with Berisha would undermine the objective of defeating Rama, while Qori rejects cooperation with both major political parties, describing them as part of the same political establishment.
Berisha's invitation has therefore exposed a fundamental disagreement within the opposition: whether political change should be pursued through a broad coalition led by the Democratic Party or through independent movements seeking to distance themselves from Albania's established political leadership.
For now, the three political leaders have made their positions clear: they are not prepared to join a coalition under Sali Berisha.