Albanian President Ilir Meta accused “a criminal group with the Socialist Party” of attempting a coup d’état but promised he will not leave his office despite efforts from the Socialist majority to drive him out. Meta was speaking in a press conference after the Edi Rama’s Socialist majority passed the changes to the Law on Constitutional Court, stripping the President of many of his competences.

Asked by Syri TV about his further steps, Meta said he is determined to continue his job till the last day of his presidential mandate.

Meta was careful to say it was not the Socialist Party (PS), but “a criminal group within PS” that is trying to make a coup d’état.

“There are zero chances that the President - due to the advances of the coup d’état - will retire from his duty as the Head of State and from his mission to defend the rule of law and the Constitution of Albania”, Meta said.

Speaking about the changes to the law, Meta said: “What is a Constitutional Court member, an orange at the President’s door that someone can grab and run away?”

“The anti-KÇK law is only an effort to distract attention and this is nothing but a coup d’état. A coup d’état with papers! There’s no need for tanks, or teargas, just some papers”, Meta said for the new changes to the law.