Opposition as a newsroom and an alternative of power

Opposition as a newsroom and an alternative of power
This article has been written for Albanian Free Press newspaper and www.afp.al

By ALFRED PEZA

After the June 25 elections up until today, in this second mandate in opposition, there’s a consistency in the behavior of the latter, which makes it look like a newsroom more than an alternative pole of power. This tendency would not be noticed that much if it was a temporary tendency, as it could be the case with an opposition party and sometimes with a party in power. The fact that this way of functioning is becoming the only way of doing opposition, then this makes us go deeper into this matter.

How can we define it in order to make it simpler for anyone who wants to understand it clearly and see this phenomenon? How can we make out this way of doing opposition? For this, we will resort to a simple exercise of democracy, which is widely used in similar cases, to better grasp this phenomenon. If you answer to all three questions with a NO, than the phenomenon is real and it exists.

First question:

Can you recall any Democratic Party leader hold a single meeting, a protest, or a political action on the ground after the June 25 elections? Can you recall them holding a tour of meetings in Albania, to meet with the party’s structures or opposition voters?

Second question:

Do you recall any opposition leaders to have articulated in the recent months or to have fought a single political cause against the government? Against the majority? Against the Prime Minister?

Third question:

Do you recall any opposition leaders to have launched any legal, parliamentary, constitutional or reformatory incentives on some key issues which have a direct impact on the people? Do you recall them having clung on to their incentive and force the majority to endorse it, until it prevails or it discredits this parliamentary majority?

If the answer to all of these three questions is YES, then this opposition is excelling in its role in this pluralist and democratic society, as a real alternative of power in the future. If two or one of the answers are YES, then we can say that in spite of its problems, the opposition is trying to play its role. But, if the answer to all of the three questions is NO, then there’s something wrong with this opposition.

I don’t like it, but I’m afraid that three NOs will not only be given by socialists and those who support SMI, but also by democrats, be them simple voters, simple members of the party or senior officials within this party.

Now, there’s another question which must be answered: If the Democratic Party is not playing its role as a real alternative of power, then what is it doing? Because, we must be fair and honest: this party has been active. Even more active than during the same period of its first mandate in opposition, after losing the June 2013 elections. At that time, it was shocked, tired and disappointed from the defeat. Now, it is calmer, clearer in its ideas and more motivated to come back to power. The Democratic Party and its leaders have truly been active, but most of the time, their efforts were more like an attempt to make it to the headlines, rather than do politics. They were an attempt to make noise, rather than put pressure. They forget that power is not gained through news stories, but through votes. It is not gained through newspaper headlines, news stories on TV or social networks, but through opposition action. It is not gained by dreaming of an important post, but through causes. It is not gained through noise or improvisation, but through a clear strategy which aims at providing confidence and obtaining support.

Of course, the opposition is not that naïve. The opposition is wiser and more cunning than we might thing. By attempting to seize power through the pressure that it put on the majority with methods which are different to those applied in democratic systems, instead of putting an end to the government’s term in office, it just sped up the end of its futile expectations.

The opposition is very clear on this and it is reflecting about it. Someone must remind it that it cannot come back to power by acting as a newsroom, but as an alternative of power. And to enable this alternative, it must work hard, until “fate” knocks on its door. But even for fate to come, one should do something about it and once it knocks on the door, one should be prepared to open the door, because “fate” always comes wearing… work clothes.

Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy

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