Tirana Times
TIRANA, Oct. 12 – Dritan Prifti, a senior official and lawmaker with the Socialist Movement for Integration, and former economy minister, has left the party following, what he said, were disagreements with SMI leader Ilir Meta. SMI had removed Prifti from the ministry of economy last month following disagreements with Meta. In a statement and then in talk shows he made the harshest accusation against his party leader, other party colleagues and warned Prime Minister Sali Berisha to be attentive of his associates.
Meta took Prifti’s post and left his post of foreign minister to another party official, Edmond Haxhinasto. Since then, the fight between Prifti and Meta has not subsided. First Prifti came out to say that Meta did not want him because he had not served Meta’s personal agenda. This time he went further and said that Meta had also sent threatening cell phone messages about Prifti’s his family. Prifti said Meta had ousted him because he had not done Meta’s bidding on holding tenders and concessions for personal gain. He also accused Meta of getting some 3,000 undeserved votes from the opposition Socialsits to get his seat at the parliament in last year’s general elections.
Prifti continued to accuse deputy police head Agron Kulicaj of corruption in organizing illegal fuel trade int he country.
The SMI is part of the government coalition and it was decisive last year to make Berisha capable of creating a government. Prifti is one of SMI’s four lawmakers, which now means the governing coalition is with 73 votes.
Prifti’s resignation from the party comes a day after a big convention was held by SMI as it prepares for next year’s local elections.
