By Eduard Zaloshnja
While Rama and Basha were locked for many hours inside the House of Congress on 18 May, Ilir Meta paid a visit to Sali Berisha in his private office, which is very close to the House of Congress, in a 22-storey tower. And it was not by chance that the cameras of all Albanian TV networks had been installed at the entrance of the tower.
When he got out of “Berisha’s tower”, Meta said that he had a “weak spot for the good Doctor”. Meanwhile, when he was asked in a TV show the following day why had said those words, he jokingly answered: “I have a weak spot for the good Doctor, but he’s also my strong point…” Such praises have been addressed to Berisha by other important officials of the Socialist Movement for Integration too.
The recent political developments have shown that the meeting that was being held in the House of Congress on 18 May, away from Berisha’s sight, had a collateral damage–SMI. “30 heads of departments appointed by SMI have been removed, but they could become 300 if they break the law”, said Lulzim Basha in a meeting with voters. And the removals of the state administration officials who belong to the Socialist Movement for Integration have continued.
By looking at the big political picture, the attack that the two large parties are making to SMI, makes the strong electoral card of patronage less valid. In the past eight years, the slogan of the election campaigns has been “Vote for us and we will take care of you”. But when its directors and officials are made redundant, this card becomes less valid.
This card which is used by the Socialist Movement for Integration can only become more powerful if Berisha launches a positive public message in response to the public messages launched by Meta & co for him. Such message would create the idea of a fluid alliance between Berisha and Meta, with the aim of removing Rama from power.
In fact, the history of elections in Albania has shown that the Socialist Movement for Integration shrinks when the two large parties enter an agreement to shrink it (see the chart). So, in the 2005 elections (when Berisha had a fluid alliance with Meta to remove Nano from power”, SMI’s candidates for parliament obtained 10.5% of polls on a national level. Meanwhile, the SP and its allies along with DP and its allies obtained 41.5% (the latter managed to secure a majority thanks to the “Great Dushk” and “Xhuvelism”–Agrarian Party obtained votes from the left and its MPs joined the right).
In 2009, when Berisha and Rama made a deal to shrink the Socialist Movement for Integration, the latter only obtained 4.5% of the votes, while the SP and its allies along with the DP and its allies received 46% and 46.5% of the votes respectively.
In the 2013 elections, when Rama and Meta entered a public alliance to remove Berisha, SMI went back to 10.5%, but this time, at the detriment of DP and its allies, which went down to 39.5%.
Will Berisha help SMI this time in order for the latter not to shrink back to the 2009 level?
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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
