By Alfred Peza
What Lulzim Basha started a few months ago as an incentive to build the so called “New Republic”, may well lead to only one thing: the creation of a new Democratic Party. A new right wing political force would be the most logical end of what is currently happening within the Democratic Party currently. A party which for the past 27 years has made the history of pluralism in Albania and which, today, following the catastrophic defeat in the June 25 elections under the leadership of Lulzim Basha, is heading to a downfall, because instead of a deep analysis, instead of apologizing and undergoing a catharsis which is then followed by the unification, reorganization and revival, he chose to evade responsibility and hold the party to ransom, leaving no opportunity to true democrats and his numerous opponents to be part of this project in the future.
These and many other reasons have joined many democrats around the country under the leadership of the former whip of the DP parliamentary group, Astrit Patozi. They have participated in the massive rallies organized by him and former Foreign minister, Besnik Mustafaj in Durres, Korca and Vlora. These meetings will continue with the big meeting in Tirana at the hall of the University of Arts, where former ministers Majlinda Bregu, Ridvan Bode and Arben Imami are also expected to participate. It’s still not known whether the former Speaker of Parliament, Jozefina Topalli and former minister, Genc Ruli, who head the list of the opponents of Lulzim Basha, will be present. And this, not only because he left all of them out of the list of candidates for Parliament, but also because they have been among the most critical voices about the way and philosophy that was followed in leading the DP in the past four years, following Sali Berisha’s withdrawal in 2013.
There have been many individuals or small groups which have regularly expressed their different opinions to the historical leader of this party or the main leadership of this party since the very first day the party was founded. After the final clash, a part of them left quietly. But some of them left by making a lot of noise. A part of them expressed their anger and then left only to be forgotten. Some of them reduced their public appearances, some of them created their own parties and some others, wanting to create a new alternative and to remain loyal to the December ideals, joined forces. Some of them worked closely with the left until they almost destroyed it and returned once again to the Democratic Party to be on the side of Sali Berisha or Lulzim Basha. But there are also some of them who left like enemies and returned as spoiled boys. And today, they’re once more in front of Berisha and Basha.
From these separations and unifications that took place throughout the history of this party, only the biggest group of founders which separated from the party at the very beginning and created the Democratic Alliance Party, were remembered as the most serious attempt to truly be a real democratic force which represents the liberal and modern right wing in Albania. This was somehow seen with the creation of the New Democratic Spirit Party by former President Bamir Topi, who revived the dream for a party which would represent the aspirations of unrepresented right wing supporters who were disappointed for quarter of the century by the Democratic Party.
The third serious effort to join around a group of politicians with real contributions within the DP in opposition and majority, in the parliamentary life and in the governance of the country, is the one which is taking shape today. This group is being led by one of the least controversial figures of the Democratic Party, Astrit Patozi, who was not given a chance to be a real candidate for the new leader of the party. The fact that Patozi did not agree with this arbitrariness and decided to hold another tour, offered him political credit and public advantages.
First, through his parallel tour of meetings with democrats all over Albania, he delegitimized the tour being held by chairman Basha.
Secondly, this offered the possibility of having a new and real alternative not only for 200 thousand disappointed democrats who didn’t vote in the elections, but also for all other democrats who no longer see themselves in a Democratic Party led by Lulzim Basha.
Thirdly, through this movement, Astrit Patozi improved his political profile and aspires to create a real alternative to be the chairman of a new political force which is expected to be created after this. A very important point of referral for all of those who believe that Albania needs a different right wing in new circumstances.
Fourthly, this movement turns into a very important pole to stop the course of destruction of the Democratic Party, which started since 2013 and which reached a historical culmination a month ago, when it lost another 13 seats in Parliament, making it a political force which has only 50% more seats in the new Parliament than SMI, which, in turn, had only four seats when they jointly governed Albania.
Fifthly, DP has undergone an extraordinary metamorphosis throughout its history. What started as the party of the European dream for Albanians, it has turned into a party without any identity. While Sali Berisha was the cradle of this party, today, he seems to have become the grave of this party, not being able to play the role of the historical leader in the recent years, especially in the current race of July 22. This way, he has turned into the past of the DP. With the hunch of an old journalist and a mature politician, Astrit Patozi seems to have realized this. Thus, he’s forming a group which gives hope for the future.
Lastly, everything that has happened until now must be a real and sincere effort of the leaders of this party to prevent the evil, which could not be prevented. Therefore, their true “war” starts the following day, a day after Lulzim Basha achieves his plan of kidnapping the leadership of the DP for another four years. This will mark the start of the true mission for Astrit Patozi and other political figures who support him, of many political leaders of every level and each true democrat all over Albania, for the rescue of the Albanian right wing.
This and many other reasons make us believe that the new movement which has started within the DP, in contrast to the movements seen so far within this party, will have continuity, a future. Above all, because the historical right wing, the traditional one and the new right wing has nobody to represent them.
More than a simple theoretical possibility, more than a simple new party, more than a desire of the left wing which wants to see the destruction of the right wing, more than a dream of summer night of several former MPs who got angry with a chairman who left them outside Parliament, this is a mission. Up until today, this effort has simply resulted mission impossible, while tomorrow, it may be a possible mission.
Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy
