"I am Muharrem Salihu, my name is Marco on the ballot, as I was named in the documents of Serbia, where I was officially born, and for convenience, the electoral authorities have accepted this choice" said the only Albanian candidate in the lists of Italian candidates for the European elections to over 100 people gathered at the premises of CNA, Parma, a business association led by the Albanian entrepreneur and philanthropist Shpend Ndreu. This was only the third meeting in Parma of the Albanian candidate with interest groups, individuals, in a community like that of about 6,000 Albanians of Parma, where between 2,500 and 3,000 people have the right to vote.
Asked by those present how he ended up in Italy, in his presentation he explained that after discrimination in the Republic of Serbia, his elite studies in Switzerland and his stay in Venice, where he owns 12 restaurants, some of which he manages himself and some through others; the hotel business, that in the field of security and itinerant sports exhibitions, where nearly 200 people are employed. Candidate Marco (Salihu) presented some of his ideas in business and politics, evaluating the role of Italy as a host country for nearly one million Albanians and which is appreciated by everyone in the Balkans, as the lowest common denominator of countries that have a history of conflict with each other. "Italy was liked by us even during the occupation, because it influenced the development," however, he added that "Italy should follow the example of Germany to form employment personnel in the territory." The Albanian candidate gave the idea of unique voting in all of Europe, and not on the basis of states, which creates the possibility of choosing the best candidates and strengthens the superiority of Albanian candidates in an electorally united territory. This is his idea in the spirit of the program of Ema Bonino, veteran politician, head of the "United States of Europe" List.
He promised that once elected he would lobby the Italian government to amend the "Bossi Fini" Law, which prohibits the renewal of residence permits for those foreigners who may have committed minor offenses on the territory, even if they were born in Italy. He also promised that according to the Tunisian model, which has curbed clandestine traffic in its waters, he would request that Italy "offer facilitating conditions to Albanian and Italian businesses located in the Balkans that sell their products in Italy and Europe". Albania has a preferential position over the Italian government, due to the decision to host several immigrant centers in Shengjin, and this position should be used to seek some advantages. Marco (Salihu) promised that he would ask Prime Minister Rama and the political forces of Albania to enable the diaspora to vote in the national elections, and also to expand the network of consulates, and to open Albanian schools and cultural centers throughout the Italian territory.
Another important meeting was with some of the founders of the Skanderbeg Association, but also with other proven Italian entrepreneurs of Albanian origin in the consulting office of Erion Begaj who, together with his wife, had founded the Association of Albanian Accountants in Italy. Those present, Shpendi Spahiu, Sara Blliku, Elton Pashaj, Gasper Keka, Mirian Marku, Elsid Guraj, the prominent lawyer Gentian Alimadhi, engaged in the Italian Cassation, promised absolute support for the only Albanian candidate in these elections. Mr. Marco (Salihu) also visited the monument of Skanderbeg, our national hero, in a beautiful public park in the center of Parma, together with its initiators. The meetings will continue.
