Manjola Cakoni, an Albanian citizen who lost her husband and daughter in the 26 November earthquake has told the opposition how Prime Minister Edi Rama called her and told her she should be ashamed for complaining publicly after all that the government has done for her.
Cakoni had spoken to News24 about feeling abandoned by the state institutions following the quake and her family tragedy. She alleged that she was unable to meet the basic needs for her family, and that they were living in difficult conditions.
The woman claimed the government should provide her with a special pension awarded to earthquake victims who lost all their family members. She lost her husband and daughter, and now lives with her son.
The government provided her with a furnished three-room apartment, $10,000 in cash, a monthly allowance of $150 and psychological care for her son, medical treatment for her, and $400 as pension for her late husband.
Rama also personally took care to have the young boy, Alesio, meet his idol, renowned football player Christiano Ronaldo, in Italy during the government’s media campaign in the quake aftermath.
Opposition Democratic Party then picked the story, broadcasting a second interview with Manjola Cakoni, conducted by former MP Grida Duma.
Cakoni told former MP Duma that Rama called and told her “shame on you”, after her first interview broadcasted.
In the interview, Rama was described as a bully who verbally abused the family over their claim he abandoned them, and for abusing the earthquake victims, in general.
President Meta also reacted to the news, calling for an end to what he said was “government bullying”.
Rama denounced the opposition of taking advantage of people’s pain for political points, accusing the largest opposition party of acting like hyenas.
