By FRROK ÇUPI
We waited to see how the Albanian political class would position itself in terms of the elections in Germany. Alas, we didn’t see it take place.
For many years now, Albanian political class is free to position itself, but in this case, we haven’t seen it happening. It’s a tragic image of Albanian politics…
The general elections in Germany were held and the winner was almost announced. None of the political sides in Albania expressed their preference for the future head of the most powerful country in Europe. All the others showed their affinity. The right wing in Kosovo, represented by the political party founded by Ibrahim Rugova, called on Albanians who live and vote in Germany to vote the CDU’s counterpart.
But Kosovo is small.
Then, let’s take the example of the United States of America. For a while now, Trump’s administration has manifested its support for Mrs. Merkel’s CDU, but at the same time, it has also displayed its affinity toward the anti-emigrant conservative party AfG (Alliance for Germany). Of course, this small party established in 2013 would be an ally of Donald Trump’s doctrine for border control and national sovereignty. But AfG is a small party, which cannot replace Merkel. Nonetheless, Trump’s party representatives are on the side of this party. Preliminary results show that Alliance for Germany is winning 13% of the votes and this is a victory of the right wing populists in Europe.
By joining forces with AfG, European conservatives may impose their policies in relation to massive emigration and sovereignty. Trump didn’t expect AfG to win so much so much support; however, it had announced its support for this party, but by preserving the balances with Mrs. Merkel’s CDU, which is a conservative right wing party, with a slight tendency on the left.
Why did the Albanian political class not display its support?
The Albanian right wing, which is represented by the DP, didn’t display its support for the German right wing. If the DP was an ally of Trump’s conservatives, it would rank itself alongside AfG. But if it doesn’t dare to do this, because it doesn’t want to ruin its relations with Merkel, then let it show its support for Merkel’s conservatives.
But the DP didn’t even do this.
Neither the Socialist Party, which has ranked itself along CDU, showed its support. In fact, it’s absurd for socialists to rank alongside Europe’s conservatives. But Mrs. Merkel’s behavior, which shifts from right to left, from Christian to Atheist, has given the impression that she’s a close ally to the Albanian former communists. Nevertheless, socialists who govern in Albania could not declare their sympathy not even for their alliance with CDU and Merkel.
Why do we see this confusion of alliances, which is in fact a confusion of political values?
The Democratic Party, which is a right wing party in opposition, could not shape its image as a “right wing conservative”. The obstacle remains on its very scope: to seize power, regardless of the side that it belongs to. If the DP, which was born as a right wing anti-communist party, is told that it will seize power if it joins Russia’s soviets, then it is ready to do this. Its objective is power by any means.
The Democratic Party has not managed to configure itself based on the political side it belongs. Even in the presidential elections in the United States, the DP backed Hillary Clinton and Obama. On the day that their “ally”, Trump, won, the Albanian rightists could not believe it, because they were involved in affairs with John Podest and Hillary Clinton. Then they tried to show their support for Trump, but even this they could not do. The DP couldn’t even bother to remember that it had to show its support for a party in Germany, AfG or CDU. Albanians who live in Germany didn’t receive any signals.
Neither the Socialist Party, a former communist party, could show its alliance with a party in Germany. Although the SP is in power, it was unable to say: “Vote SPD”, for instance. But it didn’t even show its support for Merkel, with whom it is showing off and holding on to power. The reason for this is simple: Leftists do not trust Mrs. Merkel, but in the meantime, “they want to trust her”. Mrs. Merkel is a “goddess without a profile”. Nevertheless, the political class of a small country like ours is obliged to find and support allies and partners.
We’re still living in the shadows of the past: We think, behave and fear as we used to do during dictatorship.
Note: The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Albanian Free Press’ editorial policy
