TIRANA, Mar. 2 – Former Socialist Party MP and chairman of the Zgjidhja Movement, Koà§o Kokedhima, said Wednesday that the upcoming general elections are endangered by cannabis money.
“Drug mafia has an extraordinary financial power. It is able to impact elections, parliament, government, media and judiciary. The June 18 elections are also endangered by the financial power of the dons of cannabis,” Kokedhima said in a meeting held in the city of Durres
The businessman, who lost his MP mandate over public procurements won by one of his previous company, said that he supports the protest led by the Democratic Party and urged Prime Minister Edi Rama to “seriously deal with the demands of the opposition.”
Kokedhima declared that the government cannot ignore the opposition demands and called for a change in the vote method and application of technology.
“Albania lacks rule of law because does not hold free elections. The government must sit with the opposition and other parties, with no conditions. Opposition must continue parliamentary debates,” Kokedhima said.
Kokedhima, 57, a businessman and media owner, was elected as MP for the Socialist Party in the southern region of Vlora in 2013. Two years later, he was stripped of his mandate, following a decision by the Constitutional Court over public procurements won by one of his previous companies.
