President of EPP Women and former Member of the European Parliament Doris Pack said the prevention of votes’ buyout and free and fair elections is a must for Albania. “You must fight in order that politicians are not bought and do not buy”, Ms Pack said today during her visit in Shkodër, in north Albania.

The former MEP also said justice has been caught by the politics and expressed her doubts that the vetting process could do anything to correct that.

“The problem is that justice is in the politics’ hands, in the moment this changes the judiciary will work”, she said, admitting she has had her differences with the Albanian Premier Edi Rama, but adding she would make the same remarks to Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha should he be in Rama’s place.

“I am here because I like Albania, I love you, I say things and make a lot of criticism. I had my differences with Mr. Rama, but I am interested in the citizens’ wellbeing. I am not interested in the political parties. Working for the wellbeing is the best politics. I would say the same things to Basha”.