The Albanian Prime Minister kicked off the time trial: “Congratulations to Cairo for the organization. As a young man I followed the race on the radio and cheered Merckx”
The prime minister presents himself at the start of the second stage in shirt and suit pants, with the number 5 on the left thigh. It looks like the uniform of a handball goalkeeper, until he explains: “The 5 is the number of our list on the election tab”. Today the Albanians will vote for Parliament and then will put themselves in front of the TV to watch the tour. To the point that someone wondered if all this will not end up helping Rama, who led the tour here and aims to continue after 12 years as a premier.
What will it be like to have such a day?
“It is beautiful that in a day of elections, where there is tension out of habit, there is a party”.
The lap serves to bring tourism but it is also sport of the heart. What does it mean for you?
“As a young man I listened to the Giro d’Italia on the radio and cheered for Merckx. Cycling is a metaphor for life and we with the tour can show Italy and the world a crazy country. I have to congratulate Cairo and the organization because in the last 24 hours I have received messages from abroad: ‘You are an incredible country’, they write to me”.
What is Italian sport for you?
“When I became Juventus, it was the only window on another world. With communism we were isolated, the darkened Italian TV, we could not travel, the TV signal only opened with 90 ° minute And you could follow football minute by minute on the radio. It was much more than sport “.
What are your three favorite sportsmen ever?
“The first is Dino Zoff. As a child I had his photo in my room, my father brought it to me when he went to Italy for a few days, many years ago. The second that comes to mind is Arrigo Sacchi. The third, for the leadership, is José Mourinho”.
What role should sport play in 2025?
“I think there is a reflection to do: how much do we invest and Europe in sport? Sport can give much more to Europe, for a healthier society, a little more balanced between tiktok-facebook and body & mind. We are not robots, artificial intelligence can do everything but not feel the affection that we need. I do not understand how Italy is one of the great powers of football, which is a cultural heritage, obscene “.
As a socialist, how does his closeness to Premier Meloni explains? What effect did Gjader’s center show her?
“In a relationship of friendship between Albania and Italy you cannot choose only what is beautiful, fun and politically clean. You must be there even when you need to do difficult things. We have given the Italian government the Italian jurisdiction on this territory. It is up to them to do the rest, administer, manage. It cannot be said that I am a socialist who goes around with a fascist. Giorgia Meloni is a right -wing policy, but for her contribution to the European right, surprise for everyone “.
This ride reiterates a concept: fortunately, the way in which Italians see the Albanian people has changed infinitely, in the last 35 years.
“Yes, the difference is enormous. Ordinary people, however, in Italy has been very open and welcoming with us. If they had not been there, where we would have found food, welcome and help?”.
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