“You steal too”: Koka–Manjani clash — “Why are you making it personal?”

A heated debate with raised tones accompanied the clash between jurist Ylli Manjani and journalist Bledian Koka, guests on “Now” with Erla Mëhilli on Euronews Albania.

The discussion focused on vote-buying, political morality and stances toward Edi Rama’s rule. The clash peaked when Manjani answered accusations about the prime minister manipulating elections with the ironic “you steal too,” prompting Koka’s immediate reaction — he rejected that logic, declaring that his morals do not allow stealing.

The Koka–Manjani debate:

Ylli Manjani: My view has been, remains and will remain: whoever sells their vote is a disgrace and whoever buys the vote is shameless. As for my part regarding the state, the law, processes and procedures — this is what I was, this is what I am and this is what I will be. I will not give this up.

The thesis is this: a prime minister’s political responsibility carries a cost — the cost begins, it makes sense, the moment you see that you have something in front of you and he knows it by heart; this has happened, and it is the biggest political crisis we have sunk into in Albania in the last 16 years. They didn’t want to understand this and they sidestep it. What morals, what morals are you showing us? What morals — can you explain it to me?

Koka: This morality will at minimum be set by the pressure of public opinion, which must conclude that no, what Ylli says is to some extent true — the idea that there is no candidate here. The problem is that, to have a candidate here, we must accept that there are apparently no elections here. But when we said there are no elections, Ylli said: “Bravo to Edi Rama for buying the elections and winning the elections.”

Ylli Manjani: Falsehood!

Koka: How many times have you said “bravo to you for winning the elections”? He doesn’t win elections, man! If you say elections, I say he buys the elections. No, no — is this Edi Rama really that strong?

Ylli Manjani: That is a fact, not an analysis.

Koka: So he both steals and goes from 74 to 84, and that is supposedly successful and gets legalized in Albania?

Ylli Manjani: You steal too!

Koka: No, I have no morals for stealing! This is where we part ways — that’s where morality is. I think you work with your own sweat, you don’t steal. Edi Rama, ever since he set foot in power, only steals.

Ylli Manjani: Why are you making it personal?

Koka: You’re making it personal with Edi Rama. The problem is that you affiliate yourself with Edi Rama, you justify Edi Rama for things you wouldn’t do yourself.

Ylli Manjani: I had Edi Rama right there.

Koka: Don’t affiliate yourself with Edi Rama for things you wouldn’t do yourself, because Edi Rama has ruined your future and appoints Gysi in Vlorë, Ylli Prodan, Erion Veliaj and Belinda Balluku, who are humanity’s shame for governing Albania! And that’s what he’s offered us — it’s worse than whether or not a secret leaked from the Court.

Ylli Manjani: I, sir, with this thing you’ve made personal with me, subscribe to my ideology. If this idea of mine suits Edi Rama, c’est la vie! Just as it suits Sali Berisha, c’est la vie! I know I get cursed for this.