By Alfred Peza
In the recent weeks, two theses have been articulated on the future of Albania and the Democratic Party after June 18. One of them is known as “New Republic”. This thesis, which has been articulated by the leader of DP, Mr. Lulzim Basha, has been launched as a project of democratic emergency for all Albanians. Meanwhile, the other thesis is the one on the reformation of the Democratic Party, which is seen as “a duty for every democrat” and has been articulated by the most critical voice of these difficult years for the opposition, by former minister of European Integration of Albania, Majlinda Bregu.
Let’s make an in-depth analysis of this interesting situation, in order to see how strong these thesis are, how likely is the one or the other to be proven right or how likely are both of them to be proven right. In fact, the question that relates to the creation of a “New Republic” or a “New DP”, in essence, seems to be the same question. Must the DP or Albania be reformed first? Must the largest party of the opposition be reestablished first or the current Republic?
Let us analyze Mr. Basha’s thesis concerning the establishment of a “New Republic” to replace the current one, which is considered by him as the “Old Republic”. All the countries of the world which are not monarchies today, consider themselves to be a republic. As a result, Albania has been a Republic even before being declared a Kingdom in 1928. But after the kingdom fell, the republic was restored in 1946 and it continues up to the present day. For 45 years after World War II, Albania was considered a People’s Republic and then a Socialist Republic. After 1990, it was simply called Republic of Albania and this is how it continues to be called even to this day. This means that we have a parliamentary democratic republic with a pluralist party system, which functions based on the Constitution voted through a referendum in 1998. The same system which is considered by Lulzim Basha as the Old Republic and which must be removed from our democratic system, to give way to the birth of a New Republic.
Very well. Up to this point, there’s no problem, considering the fact that throughout modern history, the world has known the Third, Fourth or Fifth French Republic, Weimar Republic, etc. All of these republics and others like them, have three common elements: They have been created in circumstances of radical historical changes. They have been accompanied with a total change of the old political elite. The New Republics have functioned following the approval of new constitutions, which have changed the very foundations of the functioning of the overthrown republics. Besides the fear that the political leadership of the DP has from the voting of the Vetting process and the implementation of the Judicial Reform, what else has happened in Albania to make the creation of a New Republic a necessity?
Has the current majority lost its legitimacy due to some total shaking of the system, due to massive protests as a result of mega scandals, due to authoritarianism which openly violates human rights and liberties; due to abusive governing which has turned into a system or due to a deep social-economic crisis of the country? No.
Has the old elite capitulated and surrendered unconditionally leading to the collapse of the Old Republic, giving way to a new stage, a new page, a new era of the political life of the country? Lulzim Basha would find the answer quicker than us if he were free to take his decisions as leader of the DP, without being forced to ask permission by Sali Berisha. Thus, the answer in this case is: No.
Meanwhile, have we drafted or approved, or have we started to apply a new Constitution, which would act as our compass and lead us in the unstoppable journey toward the New Republic? The answer is once again: No.
Then, what is forcing Lulzim Basha to demand a New Republic with old political elite, an old Constitution and an old judicial system? Nothing. What’s happening is that an old political class is claiming to be a new one, with the hope that Albanian people will “buy” it.
It is clear that we’re in a situation where we truly need a reconstitution in order to come up with something totally new, for a new hope inside politics, opposition and the Democratic Party. Inside the leadership of the largest opposition party in Albania. This is the emergency that Majlinda Bregu considers as “the duty of every democrat to rebuild the Democratic Party”. The need for this has also been voiced by other decent politicians within the DP such as Jozefina Topalli, Astrit Patozi, Eduard Selami, who have spoken out. The same as Fatos Nano, former Prime Minister of Albania, who evoked the absence of Sokol Olldashi, through photos where they appear together years ago during a concert by the legendary music band “Europe” in Tirana.
If the DP is rebuilt according to the political project of Sokol Olldashi, according to the institutional consistent traditionalism of Jozefina Topalli, according to the European vision of Majlinda Bregu, according to the American vocation of Eduard Selami and moderation of Astrit Patozi, then there is hope. There is hope not only for a new DP with a new vision and new program, but also with a new leadership. For a new opposition, with ideas, a new project and a new program, which brings new hope and new vision for Albania and Albanians, creating good premises to have a “New Republic” in the future. A republic which will leave behind the legacy of the old republic, to start a new challenge for everyone, a new project for a new republic, for a new Albania. A European Albania which will get rid once and for all of the neo-ottoman metastases which hold us tied to the Old Republic.
The republication of this article is strictly forbidden without a written permission from the Albanian Free Press newsroom
Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy
