Adriana Kalaja runs for People's Advocate, resigns from the Democratic Party

Democratic lawmaker Adriana Kalaja has resigned from the Democratic Party to focus on her candidacy for the position of Ombudsman.

 In a post on social media, Kalaja explains that the decision was made to pursue this new professional and civic role.

She announces that on Thursday she submitted to the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, her irrevocable resignation from both the position of President of the Court and the National Council of the DP.

In her post, Kalaja expresses gratitude for the support of collaborators and citizens.

She emphasizes that during her engagement in the DP she has worked with correctness and seriousness, protecting the party's Statute and the highest interest of members and voters.

Full post:

Dear friends.

First of all, I wanted to express my endless gratitude to you for supporting and appreciating me unconditionally.

Even for you, who on certain occasions did not agree with my positions or actions, but were fellow travelers on this extremely difficult path.

Likewise, I would like to "apologize" to all those who, when I took on important positions in the DP, did not follow the tradition of doing nothing, but worked with dedication and did not miss any protest or political action, because for me, politics should be moral.

After assuming these functions within the Democratic Party, on June 3, 2022, granted by the votes of 2/3 of the National Council, elected to this Council on 30.04.2022, I have worked with correctness, dedication and seriousness, first of all to implement these functions in defense of the DP Statute, but also in the highest interest of the Democratic Party, its members and voters.

Throughout this period, in addition to being maximally committed to defending the Statute, such as the Constitution of the DP on the one hand, on the other hand, I have given my unconditional contribution to defending the interests of every democrat, citizen or protester and, consequently, to preserving democracy and pluralism in the country.

Therefore, today, I feel obliged to inform you that I have decided to announce my candidacy for the position of Ombudsman and that I can tell you with conviction that my ongoing commitment and work in all my professional and social activities, so far, have always been oriented towards the need to respect and guarantee the rule of law, fundamental constitutional principles and rights, peace and social justice, objectives that have accompanied me in every professional activity or experience.

At the same time as submitting this candidacy, allow me to inform you that the purpose of my application is to provide my professional (legal, financial) and civic contribution, in the best possible fulfillment of the role and position that the Constitution has given to the Ombudsman, not only for the protection of the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of individuals, without distinction, from illegal and irregular actions or inactions of public administration bodies in our country, but also for undertaking all efforts to cooperate with state bodies to develop and improve the regulatory framework and organizational measures, in accordance with the values ​​and principles protected by the Constitution and in defense of the highest public and civic interest.

As you are aware, throughout my entire period of social activity, even without the mandate of the People's Advocate, I have been at the forefront of battles, in defense of the rights of Albanian democrats and citizens, from protests and police stations to criminal trials, rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Albania.

For this reason, I would like to inform you that on Thursday, I submitted to the Chairman of the Democratic Party my irrevocable resignation from both the position of President of the Court and from the National Council of the Democratic Party.

I don't know how the process of supporting or voting for the position of Ombudsman will go, but I know that this doesn't mean that I will give up on what I know how to do best:

To follow the path of justice and law.

To be by the side of every individual who needs me.

To be in opposition to any injustice.

Until then, I wish you all the best in your families and may God bless you.