Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi , during his visit to the migrant center in Gjadra, presented a proposal to turn these centers into prisons for Albanians convicted in Italy, while he did not spare accusations against the Meloni government.
Renzi said that these centers should be converted into prisons to enable Albanians convicted in Italy to have the opportunity to serve their sentences near their families in Albania.
"It would be more appropriate for these centers to be established in prisons to enable Albanians who have been sentenced in Italy to be able to be closer to their families. What is being said in Italy is just propaganda. It is propaganda by Giorgia Meloni, she is a very good influencer," he said.
He stressed that, although Meloni claims that the number of immigrants has decreased, the numbers in 2023 were higher than those in 2015.
Renzi further emphasized the huge financial loss caused by this situation, saying that the Italian government has lost nearly one billion euros, money that, according to him, does not belong to the left or the right, but to the Italian people and the state budget.
"This money should not be spent on immigrant centers in Albania, but on the working class in Italy, on pensions and wage increases," he added.
The former Italian Prime Minister said that Albania has the opportunity to become part of the European Union, but such a message, as he described it, could damage the country's EU integration process.
Former Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi: It would be more appropriate for these centers to be established in prisons to enable Albanians who have been sentenced in Italy to be closer to their families.
What is being said in Italy is just propaganda. It is propaganda by Giorgia Meloni, she is a very good influencer.
With this center, he said that we would block immigrants, but the numbers in 2023 were greater than in 2015.
It has nothing to do with political leanings, I see the numbers. The Italian government lost almost 1 billion euros, this is not the money of the left-wing or right-wing democrats, but of the Italian people, of the state budget.
I think this money should not be in immigrant centers in Albania, but for the working class in Italy, for pensions, wage increases.
It is not a political reason why I am here, but to give a message that the government is losing money through propaganda, Italian money, and this is scandalous.
The only solution is for this center, in an agreement with Albania, to be given to Albania and to welcome Albanian prisoners today in Italy.
I have also told my Italian friends to place Albanian prisoners here. We have also articulated it in the Albanian and Italian media, Meloni said "yes, why not".
With so much money, hundreds of such centers could be built in Italy, why weren't they built in Italy, what was the motive? Albania will enter the EU, but this is a message that distances Albania from the EU.