Edith Harxhi, one of the candidates aiming to take over the leadership of the Democratic Party referred to the decision of the United States to designate former premier Sali Berisha as “saddening” for Albania and all Democrats, however adding that she cannot prejudice the State Department’s decision.
Harxhi told journalist Ilva Tare that she called the family of Sali Berisha, who is one of the founders of the Democratic Party as well as its longest-running leader, to offer her support during those difficult days.
“They thanked me for the support, as a humane one. I cannot judge the decision, but friendship values to me are sacred and above all I support them”, Harxhi said.
The candidate eyeing the leadership post said that her project plans to bring to an end to the prolonged transitional period in Albania, as well as inside the Democratic Party.
Asked by Ilva Tare on whether it will be a tough race against the incumbent leader, Harxhi said that she doesn’t see it as a difficult challenge as according to her, Basha’s figure is waning.
“Absolutely not, it will be an easy race. If I would have had more time, I am certain that the result would have been unquestionable as after Basha come a series of defeats and non-kept promises. His position and figure is fading away in front of the Democrats and members of the Democratic Party”, she said.
Harxhi said she had cut friendly ties with Basha since 2017 after the agreement that the latter signed with PM Edi Rama in May.
“I don’t have anything personal against Basha as an individual, but I am against him as the party’s leader and his lack of leadership. I’ve stopped talking to him in 2017 after the agreement and elections held that year, of course, there also some personal elements in-between” concluded Harxhi.
Why did the DP lose at the general polls?
Edith Harxhi believes that the move to burn the parliamentary mandates was wrong, as it not followed up by massive popular actions to topple the Rama government.
Asked by Ilva Tare to list some of the reasons that led to the defeat of the Democrats, Harxhi responded that the so-called electoral massacre actually began prior to the elections.
“That massacre was well thought of and more sophisticated than in 2017, as I think that there was a lot of money around to make SP’s victory possible, but on the other hand the PD did not succeed in convincing the gray electorate. It did not succeed to convince enough people and create the right spirit to have a plebiscitary victory as in 2015, but I think the list also had to do with it”, concluded Harxhi.
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