Accused of praising Enver Hoxha, Florika Ngucaj clarifies

On Saturday, Florika Ngucaj was ‘massacred’ on social media over a video from an activity at the Lushnja Library, where she recited the verses "Për Enverin, yll e dritë…" ("For Enver, star and light…"), which were widely commented as praise for the communist dictator.

The fragment was taken from a longer video in which Ngucaj was recounting an episode from her childhood, to narrate how the communist regime forced even children of persecuted families to recite propaganda poems.

Florika is the daughter of writer Neki Ngucaj, whose family was persecuted and interned during the communist regime.

Today she was in a live link with the show "Shqipëria Live" on TCH, where she said the event was attended by selected persons, family members, invitees.

Excerpts from the interview:

Sidorela: What was the event about? Who was present?

Florika: We are from Vlora and we were in Lushnja for my father’s books. We are 4 sisters and we were very happy about this. Each of the girls would share a touching memory. When I was in 8-year school the dictator died. I was the best student. I had to recite this poem to make a good impression, otherwise we would be persecuted worse. We are persecuted. I stress that the full video must be shown; the part that was removed is the absurdity of that time.

Sidorela: Saimir Korreshi said he did not post the video and does not accuse the family and the lady. According to him, the lady should not have been allowed to recite it and should not have been applauded.

Florika: The MP is a public person. The pathos was ironic and owed to the time I lived; it was ironic, to show how one had to pretend. It was not a public place; there were selected people, family members, invitees; I sincerely did not think a video would be taken and broadcast and go viral. The MP can justify himself however he wants, but it is not some random person who put it online; he is the MP of a party and he benefited from this.

Sidorela: Why was there applause?

Florika: Because you see me but not the faces of the participants. It was not for the dictator or for me, but for how things were connected.

Sidorela: Are you part of a family that was persecuted?

Florika: Yes, we were not given the right to life and study. I don’t think we are the only ones; these are things that stay in the soul. Our grandfather was shot by the dictator and my father was present. This political stain followed us all our lives.