Who will replace Ilir Meta and take over the leadership of the PL?

In an interview with Politiko.al, Meta also spoke about the challenges the Freedom Party is going through, the recent departures, the rebirth of the political force he founded, as well as the profile of the leaders that will be needed tomorrow.

For those who have recently left the Freedom Party, Meta does not use the word "departure", but "self-purification".

According to him, these individuals were neither unexpected nor unusual: they had been captured in various forms by the regime, with the aim of seizing the party leadership after his arrest.

As he says, when it was realized that the script had failed, "they had nothing more to do"

Recalling the decision to burn mandates in 2019, Meta issues a strong and direct criticism of that period – a blow not only to the political strategy, but also to the very collective spirit of the opposition.

Reflecting on the future of the party's leadership, Meta admits that he is not irreplaceable, but adds that he had not taken leadership as a personal goal.

Simply, according to him, there was no one else who understood the essence of the political battle at that time. The leader of tomorrow, according to him, must go through the storms of the present, have integrity, vision, and never be a hostage to the system.

Part 3 of the interview

Question: Recently, there have been several departures from the Freedom Party. How do you see these movements? Are they a natural cleansing of the ranks or a signal of a deeper division?

Answer: I don't call them departures, but self-purification, since these people were corrupted in various ways by the regime to seize the leadership of the PL after my kidnapping, when these scenarios failed, they had nothing to do either, because when you swallow a spoonful of spoiled soup, you will vomit for the rest of your life.

Question: There are rumors that the Freedom Party is weakening, while you are isolated. What do you say to those who think this is the end of an era for the PL?

Answer : To these voices, I say rejoice if you really believe it. Of course, the Freedom Party will be a decisive factor for the democratic future of Albania in the next two decades. My criminal hostage-taking by "Ramaduro" is the horror they have of the true potential of the Freedom Party and the power of its major causes.

Question: Will there be a rebirth of the Freedom Party after this challenging period? Are you considering a restructuring, opening up to the new generation, or even new names in leadership?

Answer: The Freedom Party was reborn with the Convention on April 27th of last year, but few people understand this today. Freedom from nepotism has opened a whole new perspective for the Freedom Party.

Question: If you were no longer at the head of the Party tomorrow, what would you like to remain of your vision for it? Is there a new profile that you see as capable of taking this political project further?

Answer : I did not return to the LSI or the Freedom Party because I definitely wanted to return to its leadership, but because I did not see anyone else who would lead it and understand politics better. What do you think? How can 19 mandates of deputies be burned that only I know with what struggle and sacrifice they were won? How is it explained that none of them sent a message to ask, Mr. President, we are ready to leave these mandates, but where will this path lead us?

Nobody.

They took a little bit of levity for granted and here we are today. So it is the tough battle that will test and produce the leaders of the future.

The first element that such a leader must have is integrity and be incorruptible.

Especially under conditions of a true dictatorship, as our society is going through today.

There are no irreplaceable or immortal leaders, but only eternal causes like a free and sovereign Albania.

I once asked Craxi's daughter, Stefania, who is a prominent senator, how it was explained that the Italian Socialist Party, which had many great figures like Amato, Martelli, De Michelis, etc., did not survive after his political asylum?

This question, she told me, I also asked my father when we were walking in Tunisia and he told me that I (that is, Kraksi) also once thought that they were great figures, but unfortunately, time proved that they seemed so because they stood by my side, otherwise they would have resisted and survived, because the Socialist Party was a very historic party.

So it is the storms that test everyone's leadership qualities, where integrity and consistency are crucial in addition to vision and foresight.

And since I mentioned Crassus, history remains the most infallible judge.

"Hero" Di Pietro ended up as minister of tenders, while Italy not only honors Craxi, but also feels remorse for the behavior towards him.

But this was for Italy where a leader was persecuted for what everyone else was doing (tangents).

Whereas my case is one where a leader should be punished just because he has done nothing, so that everything else can be covered.

It won't work!