By Alfred Peza
One just needs to look at the political developments in the past 24 hours to realize that politics in Albania has two sides of the medal. On one side we have virtual politics with insults, debates and threats. On the other, we have the real state of protocols, rules, norms, rulebooks and constitutional procedures. On one side we have a simple vocabulary which aims at inspiring militants and all of those who continue to see the political arena as the Coliseum of Ancient Rome. On the other hand, we also have politically correct speeches and institutional and constitutional procedures applied by the heads of the state, government, by the heads of the opposition and majority.
To make it more understandable for everyone, I need to make a chronology of some of the main events.
FIRST EVENT
-The situation prior to the election of the new Assembly Speaker: -The Democratic Party and then the media and social networks claimed that hurricane Irma would stop and from the US, it would travel all the way over here and it would first strike Tirana and then the entire Albania if Gramoz Ruçi was elected as Assembly Speaker.
-The situation one second after the voting took place: The newly elected Albanian Assembly Speaker shakes hands with the opposition leader, Lulzim Basha, - live medias reported. For the first time, the parliamentary session started and ended on time, like never before in the 27 year history of pluralism. Meanwhile, outside parliament building, that group of people that was called to protest there, left, because they finally realized that someone had been mocking them and played with their feelings.
SECOND EVENT
-The situation prior to the approval of the program and the new “Rama 2” cabinet. -If we search the media archives, we will read, see and hear that our opposition was making it very hard for the new majority since the very start, because this time, it had so much to say that, since hurricane Irma didn’t show up, then Harvey could come and finish the job.
- But what really happened until yesterday morning at 7 am, when the marathon session that had kicked off 22 hours ago, closed? Sali Berisha, who had made a habit of taking as much time as he wanted when he stepped on the podium, quietly retreated to his seat as soon as Gramoz Ruçi explained to him the parliament’s rulebook. Lulzim Basha almost begged for a 10 minute speech after Edi Rama had delivered his speech. With the 74 votes of the Socialist Party parliamentary group and the 4 votes of the allies, both the program and the cabinet were approved.
THIRD SITUATION
- The situation prior to the swearing-in ceremony of the new government at the President’s office. -Signals and voices mainly inspired by the opposition and SMI, but also by the media troublemakers who are always in town, warned that something was about to happen. In other words, they wanted something to happen in the office of the Head of the State as this would please the opponents of the new government.
-But nothing happened. In all three situations, the state and institutional protocol worked out just fine, as it happens in every other democratic country of the civilized world. Ilir Meta signed at once the decree that charged Edi Rama to form the new government. Meanwhile, the swearing-in ceremony was held in compliance with the norms and procedures set out in Constitution of the Republic of Albania.
CONCLUSION?
In spite of the problems that it faces on a daily basis, as it is the case with any other country of the world, Albania has managed to be a functional democracy. A normal state, where powers, regardless of who controls them, are harmonized in order to function based on norms and rules and also on institutional stances which are politically correct. Perhaps it’s not much for a nation and a political class that want to make the country part of United Europe. Not only to make it a formal member, but above all, adopt the standards, values and norms that the EU embodies. But let us remember that in the recent hours, the murder of the December leader, Azem Hajdari was commemorated. Meanwhile, let us not forget that today we mark the anniversary of the failed coup d’état, which followed his murder 48 hours later.
Let us also not forget many other events that have taken place in the periods 1990-1992, 1996-1998 and also recent events, when the state functioned like an orchestra with two conductors, where the political order issued by the chief and the daily needs of the political parties of those who lead the government and the state, prevailed over Constitutions, laws and long-term vital needs of the country.
Of course, for this evolution, credit doesn’t only go to the citizens who have been capable of giving the right messages to the political class through their vote, but also to the democratic and institutional maturity of the country and to our political leaders. There’s a constant effort, especially after 2013, to put political discourse in Albania into a more professional track, through speeches prepared in advance, leaving instant improvisations more and more aside, through a more rational language, by using a lower and less provocative tone and through messages that promote all-inclusiveness.
Of course, this article doesn’t aim to act as a preaching. On the contrary, it aims to draw a new positive trend of that positive trajectory that the life of the country is going through and will continue to go through. This doesn’t mean that I am against strong debates or clashes of political parties on major issues that concern citizens, politics, democracy and constitutional institutions of the country. Au contraire. If this doesn’t happen, then it’s a cause for concern. What I’m trying to say is that everyone must have the opportunity to see the reality of Albanian politics beyond the fog and noise made for a few more clickings. So, don’t be shocked when you see your leaders and the people that you have elected having coffee or lunch together. And even less, when you hear that they communicate with each other in the same normal manner that our state politics functioned in the past 24 hours.
Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy
