The "McGonigal" case / Bamir Topi comes out with the accusations against the prime minister: Rama sees the institutions as pieces of paper

Former President Bamir Topi has commented on the "McGonigal" case that has troubled Albanian politics in recent days, where the opposition accuses Prime Minister Edi Rama of corrupting the former FBI official.

In an interview for the show "Kjo Javë", Topi said that Prime Minister Rama is afraid of the Parliament and cannot handle it, referring here to the refusal of the head of the government to be present at the interpellation called by the opposition.

According to Topi, Prime Minister Edi Rama, having power in his hand, sees the institutions as pieces of paper and does not respect them.

Topi: When a senior FBI figure comes on the agenda, interest rises, the political tone increases, and there is curiosity. I have seen it in two plans, one that deals exclusively with the one where he has the obligation to give all the explanations in the US. There is a political and legal problem. There was also reflection in Albania, where a political problem remained. Here things are somewhat complicated. As happens in the field of Albanian politics, there is a lack of transparency here. Things precipitate and go to extremes.

When I said that here is a political situation, this is about the obligation that the prime minister, involved or not, I do not know, and I have the patience that everything will come clearly from the US. There are two sides to the political problem, one is the Prime Minister and the other is the opposition and public opinion. While this case is being investigated there, we are waiting for the American justice to give the verdict. This is a political problem and it is the Prime Minister's duty to be transparent. I saw that this week he avoided Parliament. This is an old disease that characterizes Rama.

Question: Should there have been such an interpellation?

Topi: I don't need to say it. When the Assembly operates based on the rules. When we were in Parliament, I was a negotiator for this job. The President of the Assembly was Mr. Ylli Bufi. It was a long process, of a long discussion for the realization of the regulation of the Assembly. Consensus has been reached for this regulation. Beyond the regulation, the Assembly is the highest political institution. There is the voice of the opposition. If an opposition completes the signatures for interpellation, then I think it is right to develop. But if we continue with the cardboard practice that the interpellation can be rejected, then I can say that the Parliament has fallen under the prime minister's hoof.

Question: Has this situation weakened the prime minister?

Topi: Për hir të së vërtetës, unë nuk shoh ndonjë ndryshim në fizionominë e kryeministrit. Rama ka vite që është paracaktuar si një njeri që i sheh institucionet si copa letre. Ai për mendimin tim, ka bërë një hap të gabuar të radhës, duke anashkaluar Parlamentin për një çështje që ka një ndjeshmëri të lartë. Përderisa është një çështje me ndjeshmëri, s’duhet ta anashkalojë Parlamentit. Pas 2008-ës, Shqipëria sështë Republikë Parlamentare, por një Republikë Kryeministrore. Çdo kryeministër të jetë, do e vërtetojë se është shumë i fuqishëm. Më parë ishte mocioni për kryeministrin. Ku e kemi atë? Në 2008-ën është hequr.