By Alfred Peza
It’s been two days that traditional media, online media and social networks have been inundated with an endless number of analyses, comments, opinions and thoughts on the composition of the new government. The main common element is that in the majority of cases, they are focused on single names or on all the nominees as part of the new cabinet, by not analyzing their profiles or expectations, but only their names.
This way, the official opposition, its representatives and the media along with analysts and opinion makers, want to play the role of the Prime Minister, who is the only person that the Constitution entitles to elect the team that will govern the country in the four years to come. Nobody analyzes the facts, if one or another has been appointed based on experience, profile, contribution, qualities or intellectual formation, academic, political and social. If they have problems with the law, Constitution and the rules that regulate the activity of the state and its citizens.
One cannot find any of this anywhere. On the other hand, almost nobody up until today has analyzed any of the basic documents which will drive the functioning of the new cabinet: The ten priorities of “Rama 2” government. A document which contains all election promises, the governing program and the needs of the people who trusted the SP and Edi Rama with the “steering wheel” until 2021. A document which is much more important than the names of the ministers who may come and go, based on their performance. Meanwhile, the ten basic priorities of the new government will remain there until the end and they will change the life of the Albanian citizens, who will then rate the Prime Minister in the next elections.
No one until today has analyzed why, for instance, loyalty to people, to the citizens and all of those who voted the SP, must be the first in the list of the features of the next government?
Or, should “an unshaken political will for reforms” for a courageous government in front of any type of resistance to preserve status quo, be the no. 2 feature of the work and the activity of Rama 2 governing cabinet?
Why must this government define as one of its priorities something that sounds more general, such as “a frontal attack to tackle each infected area of the state”, rather than define 3, 5 or 10 priorities which have to do with the most urgent and vital needs of the country and the citizens?!
Why did “constant readiness for dialogue by the government with the opposition” must be the fourth element and not the first one in the long list of priorities? Because, someone could say that: Often, the atmosphere of extreme conflict between two political poles in majority and opposition has slowed down the reforms of the country and is a major cause for a climate of tension and insecurity for the lives of the citizens, domestic businesses and foreign investments.
Priority number five of the government is the following: “The second term in office will include unconventional operations in the fight for economic development, crime and corruption”. Why couldn’t this be higher in the list? Why couldn’t economic development be a priority on its own? Why couldn’t we list crime and corruption on the third or fourth place, given that we have been defined as a country which has widely spread the culture of impunity?
What sort of new platform, project or different strategy does our opposition have in relation to this? How would it list the priorities? Do we need 10? Do we need fewer? Do we need more priorities, key priorities or main priorities to have efficient governance?
On the other hand, in his speech in the meeting of the Socialist Party Assembly two days ago, the Prime Minister explained in detail the philosophy of his government in the four years to come. He talked about a platform which has started a while ago, but started to take shape after the 25 June elections, to continue with the tour of hearings all over Albania. Now, it has been decided that this tour will continue twice a year. Once at the end of Fall, before the discussion and the approval of the state budget for the year to come and once at the end of Spring, before Parliament goes on holiday.
In spite of the normal skepticism that can associate such incentives, why can’t there be a deeper analysis on them? Why do political experts, sociologists, analysts, opinion makers, political parties and their specialized departments, not offer their expertise on this issue?
Why are there no opinion polls to know how public opinion received this incentive? Do citizens believe it and how optimistic or pessimistic are they about this? This and many other questions come up each time we see the reactions sparked by the composition of the new government, but also the platform and philosophy with which it has decided to work. In every other country with an advanced level of democracy, the approach of the opposition, media, academic world, civil society and public opinion expressed in social networks, would be different. They would not deal with names, personal biographies or personal preferences for one or another, but they would deal with platforms, alternatives, opinion polls, criticism and constructive suggestions that could improve public debate and help the government and the country.
Up until today, only a private university has offered a concrete platform with concrete findings and suggestions in relation to the new government structure, the reorganization and the reformation of the state administration based on the principle of a smaller government, but more efficient for the citizens, by reducing bureaucracy and corruption, by boosting efficiency and improving living standards for citizens. Even in this case, nobody dealt with findings and proposals, but with names.
Based on this logic, if we continue like this, it’s the government that wins in this situation, because it has no mirror in front of it.
Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy
