Koçek reveals behind-the-scenes details of his departure: Some SP colleagues secretly supported me

Independent MP Marjana Koçeku has spoken again about the reasons that led her to leave the Socialist Party, revealing that the decision had been thought about for a long time and that citizen protests only convinced her that the time had come to make it public.

Invited to the show "Albania Live" on Top Channel, Koçeku said that during her time as a SP MP, she had continuously raised concerns about environmental issues, especially for the Drini, Buna and Dukagjini areas, but according to her, the requests and criticisms did not receive due attention.

She indicated that she made the decision to leave the Socialist Party alone, without consulting anyone, while turning off her phone in the days before leaving was intended to avoid any influence or pressure.

Koçek also revealed that some socialist colleagues have privately supported and encouraged her in her decision.

The independent MP also touched on her meetings with Prime Minister Edi Rama, saying that she had raised her concerns about the lack of investment in the area she represented several times. According to her, Rama had admitted to her that he did not know Dukagjini well, as he had never been to that area.

"There have also been previous objections to things that I have considered unfair. I have also held positions within the parliament on the environment, especially Drini and Buna. I have also supported one of the DP MPs in Shkodra. As an independent MP, I can contribute more to the causes that I support, with more freedom and conscience.

The decision has had a series of events, it did not happen immediately. It was thought out on my part, but the protest had its influence in thinking that it was the right moment. Turning off the phone was to avoid being influenced by anyone. I only consulted my conscience about the decision. My family did not try to intervene, they respected my decision and were concerned about my well-being. I had numerous requests to the prime minister for the area I represented on various environmental issues and not only. I gave signals by being critical about the delays and negligence of investments in the area I come from. In the meeting with the prime minister, he told me that it is an area that I have never encountered and I do not know well what is happening there. 

This is what he said on the podcast, that he has never been to Dukagjin, which is not an unimportant area. The Prime Minister's T-shirt in Shkodra had a flamingo on it, it was a sincere comment on my part in support of the protest. Rama did not say anything to me about that comment. I headed the SP list in Shkodra, but I was personally sworn in in parliament.

When I joined the SP, I became part of my own image and I was an active part of the campaign, so I contributed during the campaign and this cannot be denied. The votes did not come only from the SP followers, but also from the gray electorate, which was also thanks to my acquaintances. I spoke at the group meetings on the issue of mortgages, the protection of architecture and not only. I will continue as an independent MP until the end. I will be a critical voice.

I have read on social networks the objections to Spiropal, everyone has their own freedom to express their own position. There were colleagues from the Socialist Party who have privately supported me, encouraged me and respected my decision. I was in Brussels, where I spoke about my decision and the situation of the protests and I received support.

No one forced me to post about the destruction of Theth, which is why I did not delete that post. I believe that the intervention in Theth was done in the wrong way in terms of timing, arrogance and insult, despite the irregularities there. I am not like Greta Thunberg, I have followed and appreciate her resistance to global and environmental causes.

"I was present at the protest, I decided to keep a kind of distance. I will continue to support them as much as I can. I don't know what party New Albania is, my goal is to be as active as possible and represent the citizens. I have no way of not knowing good things about Edi Rama, I am not the person who chooses to blacken everything that I am no longer a part of. I have told Edi Rama what I had, publicly and privately. I am an independent MP, I do not aim for any grouping ," Koçek said.