The Presidency of the Democratic Party held a meeting on June 6th, where it decided to open the electoral process and hold elections for the new party leader on July 29th.
The decision was approved with 17 votes in favor, 2 votes against and 3 abstentions.
Several options were discussed during this meeting regarding the election of the new party leader. One of the variants proposed by several MPs requested that the election process in the party be extended to an indefinite period, in order to give more time and join with Sali Berisha’s group, followed by elections from the lower-level sections of the organization up to the leader.
Another variant was proposed by the College of the DP branch leaders, who suggested that the new party leader be elected as quick as July 15th.
A third variant involved holding a reconciliation assembly with Berisha’s group, and the withdrawal of those deputies who scored a defeat in their electoral areas in the May 14th local elections.
The meeting started from 18:00 and lasted until after midnight, and was accompanied by high tensions, swearing and insults towards the Democrat deputies.
Namely, Gazment Bardhi, Saimir Korreshi, Helidon Bushati, Dashnor Sula, Lefter Gështenja, Bledion Nallbati and Dhurata Çupi left the meeting before voting took place, only to be confronted with party militants who had stayed outside the premises where the meeting was held.
Tensions almost precipitated to physical violence towards deputies, while insults were thrown also at journalists who were reporting on the meeting.
The chairman of the DP Parliamentary Group Gazment Bardhi denounced the violent acts that occurred between some of the deputies and sympathizers of Lulzim Basha, at the moment when the deputies decided to leave the meeting after not agreeing with the proposal for the opening of elections for the new leader.
“Verbal violence, pressure and blackmail against DP deputies who think differently are not political tools. This behavior by the paramilitary group blows up the coexistence within this political force and finally crushes the citizens’ trust in the DP. Strongly condemning acts of violence against PD deputies, members of the Presidency and journalists, I ask each colleague to publicly distance themselves from them. Through violence, pressure and blackmail, nothing long-term is built, in the interest of the democrats and Albania,” wrote Bardhi on Twitter.
1/2. Dhuna verbale, presioni dhe shantazhi ndaj deputetëve të PD që mendojnë ndryshe nuk janë mjete politike. Kjo sjellje prej grupimi paramilitar hedh në erë bashkëjetesën brenda kësaj force politike dhe dërrmon në mënyrë përfundimtare besimin e qytetarëve tek PD.
— Gazment Bardhi (@GazmentBardhi) June 7, 2023
Even the former DP leader Lulzim Basha took to Twitter to condemn the violence, while applauding the reflection that has started within the opposition to reorganize.
“The spirit of the constructive debate with which the Presidency of the Democratic Party debated for more than 8 hours to find the best way to reorganize the Democratic Party is a clear sign of a deep reflection that has started within our political family. There is nothing more democratic than different opinions in a political forum. Debates and different opinions should be respected by everyone. The democratic values that guide us in this difficult journey cannot be violated by any individual. I strongly reject and condemn any attempt at tension that feeds the old political culture of mud and blackmail with which we have parted once and for all and which must be left behind,” wrote Basha on Twitter.
1/3 Fryma e debatit konstruktiv me të cilën Kryesia e PD debatoi për më shumë se 8 orë për gjetjen e rrugës më të mirë në funksion të riorganizimit të PD, është shenjë e qartë e një reflektimi të thellë që ka nisur brenda familjes tonë politike.
— Lulzim Basha (@lulzimbasha_al) June 7, 2023
At the beginning of the meeting, Jorida Tabaku announced she had rejected the proposal to hold the position of the commanding leader of the DP, a position left vacant after the resignation of Enkelejd Alibeaj.
Tabaku refused to vote, declaring her resignation from all party functions, keeping only parliamentary ones.
“We all agree that the DP needs to be reorganized, but we did not find a common ground on how we should reorganize. I asked the Presidency not to make a hasty decision. We do not have the luxury of repeating the same mistakes! After the Presidency’s decision to continue with the election process, I asked that we find an agreement on how. In my judgement, unilateral actions as in the past have influenced the reduction of the DP. That is why I refused to vote in favor of a decision that in my opinion, damages us because of the way and the conditions in which it was taken,” said Tabaku after the meeting.
The member of the DP Presidency Jonila Godole had this to say after the meeting:
“After the March 6th elections, I said we need to do an analysis and not rush to choose and start voting for the new leader. This is not the main thing. It is important that the DP shows it is a different party, a party that learns from its mistakes, analyzes the loss. I am sure there are 700 thousand others who would like to vote for the DP, but with a new leadership.”
Roland Bejko, the former DP candidate for the Municipality of Tirana called for unity amongst deputies, considering any abandonment of meetings as “a stab in the back” for the Democratic Party.
“Everyone is responsible towards the Democrats for their actions. We need support, not attacks,” said Bejko.
