Parliamentary opposition MP Halit Valteri has accused MP Damian Gjiknuri of threatening him and also paying Parliamentary Opposition MPs to vote in favour of the Socialist Party changes to the Electoral Code.
In a statement to the media outside the assembly, Walter said:
“[Gjiknuri] called and threatened me, saying ‘you don’t know who I am’, about my speech in parliament in which I said that Gjiknuri is in full collusion with gangs. The provocations of Gjiknuri and his ‘problematic guys’ do not intimidate me.”
He called on Prime Minister Rama to remove Gjiknur as an MP, as he ‘is in full collaboration with gangs and crime’.
Valteri continued with the accusations against Gjiknuri, saying that he ‘as Minister of Infrastructure has stolen 100 million euros and takes 5 million euros from the Indian Guru every time he comes and meets his wife.’
Yesterday outside the Assembly, Valteri and Gjiknuri clashed physically. The intervention of other deputies was needed to stop the clash.
Report TV was able to film some moments from the tense conversation between Gjiknur and Valteri.
Gjiknuri denied the allegations against him, stating that he did not buy the votes needed to pass the amendments.
“These are stories, political speculations. Let those that have been bought come out and say so,” he told the media.
This is not the first time Gjiknuri has been accused of tampering with voting. His voice appeared on leaked prosecution wiretaps that were published in the media as a part of the Albanian Electiongate scandal. He was recorded speaking with Diber Police Chief Robert Aga and businessman Bekim Krashi.
During the call, Gjiknuri congratulates the police chief on his electoral strategy and then warns him against speaking too much on the phone.
This is a transcript of the call:
Police Chief Robert Aga: Yes, mate!
Bekim Krashi: Ah, What you have achieved, what you have achieved, you killed it completely, hahahahaha! You are killing it, you are not letting anything go!
Police Chief Robert Aga: I want to have 1,000 plus [votes]. I do not accept anything under 1,000.
[…]
Police Chief Robert Aga: My strategy works!
Bekim Krashi: I know, I know. You have declared it! You are a political commissar, hahahaha!
Police Chief Robert Aga: Yes, yes. Look, is [Ministe] Damian Gjiknuri there with you?
Bekim Krashi: Why, you want me to pass the phone over?
Police Chief Robert Aga: Yes, pass it on.
Police Chief Robert Aga: Hi, boss!
Minister Daminan Gjiknuri: What’s up?
[…]
Police Chief Robert Aga: Because you did not have faith in me.
Minister Daminan Gjiknuri: Earthquake! Earthquake! You are the master! You said it… Hahahaha! You are a giant! Cmon, ciao. Don’t speak too much here, right.
You can read more about the Electiongate scandal here.
