For the chairman of the Democratic Party of Albania, Lulzim Basha, a “mechanical” unity of the opposition is not enough to secure the votes of Albanians.
On the “Inside Albania” podcast with journalist Alice Taylor, Basha stated, “This is not a matter of closed-door negotiations for a mechanical unity. People need to see that the Democratic Party is serious about them and the future of the country. It is serious about offering a frontal, uncompromising opposition towards the worst and most corrupt government of the last 34 years.”
Furthermore, Basha explained that the Democrats’ support for justice must be unwavering.
“You are not serious if you talk about fighting corruption in the morning and curse the Special Anticorruption Structure [SPAK] in the evening. It is entirely a lack of coherence. We must seriously support judicial reform and SPAK in its efforts.”
Amid the crisis that engulfed the Democratic Party after Sali Berisha’s non grata designation, Basha sees an opportunity for the party to emerge stronger. He called for an electoral reform that benefits citizens, not some politicians for personal interests.
“We must take electoral reform seriously, which serves Albanians and not some politicians. If we take this seriously, it will certainly create a massive political support for the opposition. If 40 or 50 deputies come together, this will not only not have the same effect, but it can backfire! Unity for what? For their needs to be re-elected? Who cares about that? This crisis, like any other crisis within the opposition, is a great opportunity to show Albanians that the Democratic Party is capable of change, embracing challenges, and having a vision to lead in the future.”
Asked if he desires the unity of all factions of the Democratic Party, Basha did not hesitate to affirm that he wants such a thing, but with a condition.
“More than the unity of factions, I want the people united around an idea, a vision, a plan, to show everyone that we not only have a vision but also have a reliable plan to support it. We have a reliable way to achieve it and we are determined to do so. If we show this, all our supporters will follow us on this path. There cannot be hypocritical leadership trying to cover personal interests. Albanians see it clearly; they are tired of the politics of the last years. They clearly see who is sincere and who is trying to take advantage of the situation. There is no room for hypocrisy here, no room for false offers.”
The violent protests by a part of the opposition in Parliament or in front of the Tirana Municipality building, Basha sees as misguided politics, for the personal benefits of a certain group.
“My experience has shown me that the use of radical means in a protest, which is not unique to Albania, alienates those who are needed the most: undecided voters, influential people who usually have a distaste towards such acts that tend to overshadow the supremacy of arguments. Perhaps for a short time, this energises the base, but then it exposes the motives of those who undertake these actions. They are not interested in uniting a large part of society under the right vision. They are only interested in showing muscles within the opposition. This is the wrong approach; it is politics for personal gain. It is not the kind of politics that can take Albania out of the abyss where this government has brought it into.”
The head of the DP attacked the “dirty deal” between the majority and the opposition group led by Gazment Bardhi for penal amnesty.
“It is clear that the ‘revolution’ in Parliament had only personal motives. We saw that it was immediately surrendered with the agreement for amnesty, which is highly problematic. We warned that the real goal was the release of over 100 people convicted for corruption and organized crime. We raised this issue, sounded the alarm that it was a dirty deal where corrupt officials and those convicted by the Special Anticorruption Structure [SPAK] were being released, while protesters against this corruption did not benefit from the amnesty. This is a dirty deal, you cannot even call it a compromise, but a subjugation of those who call themselves opposition to the main problem in this country, which is the corrupt government. This makes people hopeless.”
Basha had a strong message for the group that, according to him, claims to speak on behalf of the opposition.
“The amnesty agreement is shameful! Those who led this effort in Parliament have lost the moral ground to represent the opposition. With their actions, voluntarily, they became obedient servants of the government’s corrupt agenda. These people pose a threat to the judiciary. They show to citizens but also to our partners what they are willing to do to implement their personal agenda. They are willing to harm the most precious investment of Albanians and our partners, which is judicial reform and the hope to end impunity and ensure equality before the law for every Albanian citizen. They have stabbed this hope and promise in the heart. It is a very serious matter, which the DP will not forgive!”
