By Alfred Peza
I would like to avoid any sort of emotional approach in this analysis, due to my involvement in the Socialist Party, something which prejudges it beforehand. But even if I wasn’t involved, I am persuaded that I would write the same thing.
So, be patient until you read all of my arguments, before you disagree with them. Or agree with them, if you think that they’re based on facts and on a logical analysis, because this is the only way to understand them and accept them. It doesn’t matter whether on Sunday you will vote the SP, DP, SMI or any other political party. Let us go through the arguments.
First of all, all the credible opinion polls or even the ones lacking credibility in the professional aspect, which have been held so far, make the Socialist Party the winning party in Sunday’s polls. Even the opinion polls held by other parliamentary parties have publicly admitted this reality. Many years ago, there have been disappointing experiences in Albania with opinion polls, even when they have been carried out by companies with international fame. But at a time that the media has seen an extraordinary development along with social networks, the opinion polls carried out by specialized companies have managed to come out with results which are very close to the official result later certified by the Central Election Commission.
Secondly, for 20 years now, since the June 1997 elections up until today, an unwritten rule has been preserved regarding the cycles of SP and DP in power. According to this rule, each of them has held on to power for 8 years or two terms in office. This happened with the Socialist Party in 1997-2001 and 2001-2005. Then, history was repeated with the arrival of the DP in power in 2005-2009 and in 2009-2013. There’s no reason why this rule ceases to exist. After the first term in office, it seems quite normal and reasonable for the SP not to remain in office for a second term, from 2017 until 2021. It’s not relevant if it will govern on its own or if it will be forced to forge alliances, based on the result and the need for a solid mandate.
Thirdly, the Socialist Party and Prime Minister Edi Rama have governed Albania during this first term in offices, driven by the reforms which would enable a modern state and consolidate key sectors in the country such as higher education, administrative reform, pensions, reform in energy, law and order, healthcare, legalizations, compensation of former political dissidents and many other sectors, to conclude the four years in office with the biggest reform ever, the justice reform. The necessary constitutional amendments and the approval of the package with 7 bills that accompany the reform, culminated with the start of the process of vetting for around 800 judges and prosecutors in the country. This and the consolidation of public finances and state budget, increase of salaries and pensions, economic growth and the biggest project of urban renaissance in 71 cities and towns of Albania, lead people to believe that this government needs another term in office, in order to advance with these reforms and enable them to yield the expected results for more jobs, wellbeing and rule of law.
Fourthly, the rallies held so far during this election campaign all over the country, are a clear indicator of the difference that there exists in the support given to the SP as opposed to the DP. Everywhere there’s massive participation, enthusiasm, excitement and people who reflect optimism and expectations, which are even bigger in the four years to come. On the other hand, PM Rama has a tangible message for everyone, articulated in a very simple way: We have done a lot, but there’s still a lot to do and even more to lose if we go backwards. This is the reason why for the first time, a governing party avoids its own flags in the election campaign and uses the national flag in each meeting, focusing more on the need for people of all political persuasions to vote its program. Many candidates of the DP list or its ally parties, former political leaders and traditional voters of the left, have openly declared that they will vote the SP and Edi Rama this time.
Fifthly, the electrified pre-election climate was undone and the general electoral climate relaxed like never before in these 27 years, following the agreement made by Rama and Basha on 18 May, thus issuing a clear message for all voters that the political class, albeit all the problems of the past and the present, knows how to rise above party interests, for the best interests of the country and its European future. The solution of the political crisis in the most civil way possible, after the fact that the DP remained three months in the tent, showed that the SP and Rama are ready to give away power with the scope of consolidating the state. The appointment of the technocrat ministers by the opposition acted as an assurance which had never been given before for a fair, equal and uncontestable electoral process. This offers maximum legitimacy not only to the vote of the people, but also to the majority that will govern the country until 2021.
Lastly, all of these and many other factors, must guide us to the highest standard as opposed to any other electoral process ever held in Albania. This certification would be the last step toward launching accession talks between the EU and our country this year. This would be a historical achievement for Albanians, because it would soon make us a full member of the European Union and realize a long lasting dream that each one of us has had.
This result would be good not only for the country and SP, but also for Albanian democracy, because the next four years would offer the DP and SMI the opportunity to remain in opposition and reorganize, restructure, become more mature in new opposition battles and prepare to come back into power, by offering a major contribution for the democratic normality of the country and its long-term stability. These are key factors which would improve the image that Albania has been missing so much everywhere in the world. A crucial element to attract foreign investments, to speed up economic growth and improve living standards for all Albanian citizens.
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Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy.
