This article has been written for Albanian Free Press newspaper and www.afp.al
The only ones who were “bewildered” after the defeat of the Democratic Party in the last parliamentary elections were western allies. At the end of the day, Albanian voters and even DP’s militants for that matter, know the “trick” and this time they moved from a “wave of disappointment” to an undesired reality.
The problem remains with the western allies.
The relations of the allies with the Democratic Party went through at least three phases. Three phases within the short period from the election of President Trump as President of the United States of America until June 25, when the elections for the new Parliament took place.
First phase:
The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States of America shocked politicians in Albania; even the rightists represented by the Democratic Party. The leaders of the Democratic Party (right wing) had their hands full with Mrs. Hilary Clinton and John Podesta and they could have fathomed a victory by the “self made” opponent, Donald Trump. The morning of 9 November 2016, when Donald Trump’s victory was announced, fell like a bomb in the Democratic Party’s headquarters in Tirana. Although the world had accepted Trump’s victory, there was still much disbelief within the DP. I was told that the leader of DP, Basha, looked people in the eye and told them: “No, he will not win, we talked to Podesta”. From the moment Trump won until the day when the DP decided to set up the tent of Protest for fair elections, a “frozen” period was noticed between the rightists in Tirana and the conservatives in the US. But nothing was known as to their connection and what they thought of each-other. Brexit had not convinced the democrats here that this was a “big signal” that the world was changing. They still obeyed to the old establishment and “correct policies” that were falling in Europe.
During the “vegetation” period, Brexit’s victory and Trump’s election, there were efforts from a left wing party (SMI), which attempted to establish connection bridges with the administration of the newly elected President of the United States. But Washington issued no signs of “life” for SMI or the DP.
Second Phase:
When I recall the protest that took place on 18 February, which started without any slogans inspired by Brexit and Trump’s conservative spirit, I feel like I’m once again at the DP’s headquarters where the “bomb” of Trump’s victory fell. But at the moment the Tent was being set up, everything changed in terms of the point of view of the observers, who were trying to find out “where the DP stands”. The fact that DP decided to resist for free elections, did seem more or less like a conservative spectrum. Little by little, when the Tent started to hold people for a long time inside of it, more alliance from abroad was being sought. Powerful right wing representatives came to speak in the Tent of Freedom, from republicans of Donald Trump to Hungary’s Orban’s envoy. The leader of the DP, Basha, articulated short phrases from Trump’s doctrine, such as “nothing will ever be the same” and that “we have Trump’s America on our side”, etc. However, the name of the US President was seldom mentioned and Brexit was never mentioned. Even the populist movements of Western Europe were not mentioned.
Neverhteless, this was the phase when democrats, rightists and conservatives, thought that the Movement was connected to new conservative movements in the West. This was the pillar where democrats had based their brilliant idea that “even if we lose the elections, this is not important. What’s important is that the DP positioned itself alongside the conservatives in the West”.
Third phase:
The collapse of the “sand castle”. Everything that seemed to be “an alliance with the Western conservatives” collapsed on the night of 18 May, when the leader of DP, Basha, entered a secret agreement with the leftists in the government. This has not happened in the history of conservatives and can never be considered as conservatism.
The leader of DP, Basha, started to “misuse” the Western conservative allies. His journey to Washington for a “photo without words” with President Trump, look as if it was made with the scope of appearing a Trump supporter, but on the other hand, he wanted to have alliances with the liberal leftist inspired by George Soros. Trump’s photo was used as a trophy to deceive rightists. Basha’s team of American advisors was composed of members from John Podesta and Soros’ companies. Soros is an American multi-billionaire, whose money fueled America’s anti-Trump protests. He is also inspiring and funding a post-communist left in Southeast Europe. Powerful ties have been discovered in the Albanian politics. There’s information that the DP leader, Basha, is his “student”. The secret agreement with the left wing chairman, Rama, has certainly been inspired by Soros. This was the last moment of hope when Basha could be considered a rightist. Basha’s efforts to remain leader of the DP are a clear effort of the left wing to keep the right wing inside the cage as a “leftist liberal”.
But one question remains, how did Western conservatives remain without any alliances in Albania? They were betrayed by the Albanian party in which they put so much hope.
Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy
