Chief of the Albanian opposition Lulzim Basha has requested Premier Edi Rama’s resignation considering him as an obstacle for Albania’s EU membership and called for early elections with an anti-Mafia cabinet.

Basha made his declaration one day after former Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri announced he would give up the deputy mandate and would face charges over implication in international drug traffic as a common citizen. Basha said it was a game to earn time for hiding evidence.

"There is no EU (membership) with a Mafioso government that acts with Mafia codes. Edi Rama has been proved as the only obstacle for EU (accession) and his removal and the conduct of free and fair elections would be the only solution”, Basha told media reporters today.

"Tahiri’s resignation confirms it is a game of them both. Tahiri resisted; Rama turned the deputies into judges; Tahiri used the immunity to destroy the key evidence and transferred the sacks full of Euros. The only track is the seizure of 860 thousand Euros in Orest Sota’s car. It’s clear for all why Edi Rama hurried to take the General Prosecutor under control. The key testimony for the Habilajs’ gang, Nezar Seiti, the one who made the payments, was eliminated (extradited to Italy – Syri.net). No one has been brought before justice”, Basha added.

“Tahiri gave up his mandate after the pressure from Germany, but Tahiri’s fate is in Rama’s hands and Rama’s fate is in Tahiri’s hands”.

“No one would believe Tahiri cannabised Albania without Rama’s blessing. Rama needed the millions to buy the elections and that’s why he obstructs the revelation of truth in the Tahiri investigative committee. Edi Rama’s resignation is the only way to open way for justice”.