By Plator Nesturi
Nobody wants the Socialist Movement for Integration. Perhaps, Shpetimi Idrizi is the only one that wants this party, as the two political forces reached a deal to guard their votes together along with the “half” counter that was appointed to them by the Central Election Commission. In these ten days of the election campaign, accusations have been the same from both sides. From the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party alike, with which this party has been in a governing coalition for the past four years. Abusers of the power of the big ones and unscrupulous electoral growth by exploiting power.
In fact, what is truly happening in this campaign and what we’re seeing with the electoral strategies is a novelty which has never been encountered before. During the 27 years of pluralism, the main political battle has been concentrated between the two large parties. The SP and the DP have been the bulls which have clashed with each other in every election, general or local, while it was a known fact that victory or loss would be followed by preparations for the next battle. Other smaller political parties are happy with their targeted voters, the interests of which would only be served by accepting a governing alliance with one of the big political parties.
But now, in this campaign, it seems that we have a scheme. The big ones don’t seem to be heading toward each other. Past accusations and threats as a result of corruption affairs, which we have encountered in every campaign, have been replaced by humor and sarcasm. There’s no more aggressiveness, that sort of aggressiveness that we were used to see from each side. Although, the fact that there’s not as much aggressiveness has been welcomed by the people.
The arrows that have been launched against the Socialist Movement for Integration seem to have been launched against the third wheel. They would be better off, even if their battles were bloodier. They would be better off if they remained eternal fighters in an arena with only two gladiators and where the rest are spectators. However, they have done something wrong. Beyond the debate as to whether the Socialist Movement for Integration has deserved this attack or if this coordination proves that SP and DP have a pact which goes beyond the 25 June elections toward a big coalition, this also unfolds many uncertainties in terms of the number of seats that they will win after the elections.
A mistake out of haste or out of uncertainties for the result, this is an issue which must be appraised by the electoral staffs, but it’s a fact that the attacks launched at the same time by SP and DP, have done a favor to SMI in this campaign, because it has gained more attention.
In any case, while the debate remains heated between the two traditional opposing sides, SMI would feel bad in case it was ignored at a time that it aspires for a much higher result than the 2013 result. Attacks against this party during an election campaign are a mere bonus. This sort of focus in TV debates and news bulletins may help this party to collect more votes. And the leaders of SMI must keep this debate heated.
Prime Minister Rama seems to be the first one who has realized this mistake. Immediately after Ilir Meta came out in a press conference where he attacked both Rama and Basha, the leader of the SP sent an SMS to his MPs. “There should be no more news stories involving SMI”, Rama says in his instructions about the objectives of the campaign. Is this a reflection following a hasty action or does this lead us to other post electoral objectives? It’s too early to speak. However, the damage has been done and at least this time, we have three players in this race.
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