By Frrok Çupi
In the early hours of the day, two young people, a boy and a girl from the ranks of SMI in opposition, have fallen in this battle field. They are two councilors of the Municipality of Tirana and they sacrificed themselves. Yesterday, in the meeting of the Tirana Municipality Council, councilor Genta Mezini and councilor Agim Kraja, both members of SMI, voted against the party’s instructions, which were in favor of the “water” package proposed by mayor Erjon Veliaj. The package introduces an increase of the water price for the citizens of Tirana, an increase of nearly 20 lek per cubic meter.
The initiative for the increase of the price of water by the Municipality of Tirana turned into the first field of the political battle of the opposition that came out of the June 25 elections against the governing majority. Even if the political majority had not projected this situation with the water by itself, it still looks as if it is projected by a master.
This is why:
1.
Because from the outset, even before the new government enters office, we saw the “water” case being brought up. It is both an important and unimportant issue. It’s important because water is life and sensitivity for it is extremely high all over the world. But in our country, Albania, waters are everywhere. And in our tradition, not many people have died of the lack of water. Based on the tradition here, a man has suffered because he lacked his daily bread and governments have shown off because they have managed to “secure the daily bread” for people. The political majority did introduce this issue of high sensitivity in order to promote the opposition, meaning, to test how it could turn water into opposition “gold”. But in this case, the majority came out victorious, while the opposition drowned in a droplet of water.
The opposition came out divided from the “water”. This was the first proof in favor of the government; in September, when the new government will start work, it will certainly know what opposition it will have to deal it. In spite of the declarations that “we will have a strong opposition”, it didn’t look like this. The “strong opposition” concept was shaped by the three parliamentary parties: DP, SMI and PJIU. Even the hopes of the people that they could be a strong opposition were based on the fact that “all three of them would join forces against the SP which will now govern on its own”. But the first day of battle showed that the opposition bloc is not monolith. The chairman of DP rushed to express his enthusiasm and call on SMI and PJIU to join forces “against the municipality’s water”. A few minutes later, these parties not only did as if they hadn’t heard the DP speak, but they introduced their own platform. PJIU addressed several requests to the mayor of Tirana saying that “we will vote the incentive”. The same thing was also said by SMI: “We would like to submit three requests. If they are met, then we will vote in favor”. In both cases, when you say “if”, then you’re prepared to vote the law. The DP remained on its own, while the boat of the opposition front was flooded by water.
The bill on the increase of the water price was approved with the opposition’s votes.
3.
What were the martyrs needed for?
First, to prove that the opposition is becoming “very strong” in the eyes of the public.
Secondly, to prove which opposition party is “virgin” in front of the other two. SMI immediately expelled from the group of its councilors the two members, Genta Mezini and Agim Kraja, who can be politically considered as “sacrifices”. Before, they were declared as “sold out”, while now they were declared as “martyrs” by the chair of the party, Kryemadhi. Of course, the party had information that there was treason within the councilors; or this treason was ordered by the party itself. But this morning, one third of the opposition came “clean” by condemning the traitors.
Through an “artistic” use of the communist history with traitors, SMI waged a war against the morale of the other opposition party, DP. Initially, the leader of the parliamentary group, Vasili addressed to the leader of DP, Basha and reminded him of the secret agreement with Rama. Meanwhile, today, the leader of SMI, Kryemadhi attacked the DP by saying “you were sold out to Veliaj, voted him and benefited some low interest loans for yourselves”.
The opposition is not only divided now, but also “sold out”. The two martyrs are just the symbol; the opposition is playing the martyr…
Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy
