Socialist MP Erion Braçe has spoken about his political life, his departure from the post of Deputy Prime Minister and his ambition to run for the leadership of the Municipality of Tirana.
Invited to Vizion Plus, Braçe said that he had not requested the position of Deputy Prime Minister himself, but that it had been proposed to him.
"I became deputy prime minister by begging. I didn't beg. They asked me. There are some people who know where the other person is and they succeed in some cases. I accepted it," said Brace.
He also spoke about leaving his post, emphasizing that no one had fired him and that he had made the decision to leave himself.
"No one even told me to leave. I left on my own. I bear responsibility for an electoral result. I also look at the environment. When it is no longer a team environment, why stay there anymore," he said.
Braçe once again confirmed his ambition to run for the Municipality of Tirana, demanding that the Socialist Party candidate be determined through a competition.
"Now I am asking for one thing, I am asking for a competition so that this party where I have been my whole life can select through the competition the best candidate to run to lead Tirana," he declared.
Brace said that he is strongly involved in this race and that he has made his ambition clear, despite discussions that, according to him, attempt to deny its existence.
"I have fallen in love with this competition and I believe I have shown it so much that everyone is denying the competition," he said.
Speaking about why he wants to lead Tirana, Brace said that he does not see the Municipality as a political post or as an opportunity to increase his influence.
"I don't see the Municipality of Tirana as an office, I see it as a workplace. I want the workplace, not the municipality, a chair, influence," said Braçe.
He also emphasized that he does not link this ambition to the future goal of becoming prime minister.
"I don't want to become prime minister from the Municipality of Tirana," he said.
According to Braçe, the current development model of the capital needs change and the moment is right to do so.
"Tirana's development model now needs to change. Now is the most opportune moment possible," he declared.
Asked what would change in Tirana, Braçe focused on public spaces and cleaning the city.
"Public spaces, cleanliness," he said.
Brace argued that the spaces that, according to him, were illegally taken should be returned to the city.
"They have to take what they took illegally. All of Europe is reacting to climate change. They are removing all the excess concrete surfaces. They are doing something. We are not, we are not doing it," said Brace.
