This time around, Sali Berisha couldn’t speak out without it becoming news. News in which, as was trumpeted loudly by the media, the Doctor had at last attacked Lulzim Basha.
At a first glance, it seemed that the historical democratic leader officially confirmed, following a debilitating silence, all speculations and comments that orbited around the idea that Berisha was unsatisfied with Basha, but in order not to influence others didn’t speak out. The fact that he was worried about the deputy list, hurt because his collaborators had been eliminated, touched by a condescending attitude, and downtrodden after his party shrunk to 43 deputies. And, after two and a half months, Berisha put an end to the mystery, when he vocally and visibly confirmed, what was expected by thousands of disappointed democrats.
Yes, he, the ultimate leader, didn’t agree with Basha’s actions. Because he would never dismiss from the PD the important historical figures who had invested in it. The list was neither his nor the PD’s and his successor was unable to face Edi Rama in the campaign. The latter exploited the agreement, making it appear as “a favor toward good guy Lulzim Basha,” said Sali Berisha.
The news of Berisha’s interview with Çim Peka wasn’t simply the Doctor’s synchronization with the disappointed democrats accepting the truth of Basha’s failure. There was great concern in all his lines and words. That of the final and irreversible separation of the Democratic Party. And it was right here that Sali Berisha treated Lulzim Basha like Edi Rama, showing mercy for the good guy.
The Doctor’s message raised heads from the beginning until the end of the interview, with humble tonalities resembling those of a father, that the PD must not be abandoned because of Lulzim Basha. The latter has erred, he has committed serious mistakes, indeed, but for the sake of the party’s history and future, he must be tolerated. The ones who were kicked out of PD should stick to their investment and not try to invest in creating another party. They should take Ben Blushi’s example into consideration. Historical figures in the PD have political value, but can only be developed within the party. “One of the most experienced and wisest people in politics is Ben Blushi, but where did he end up?,” said Berisha as a warning to his former collaborators, who could consider starting off a new political movement. The whole interview was a call to those not to make their final step of separation, because he himself thinks like them, is with them, condemns Basha’s actions, like them, but for the sake of the common investment must negotiate using tolerance with “the good guy” that is at the top of PD.
What is the reason of this request, almost as if begging, of the founding father of PD, now that everything seems unredeemable? Berisha has thought perhaps that after the re-election of Lulzim Basha on July 22, the tsunami against him would die off. That the opponents in the party would withdraw hopelessly, and the attentions would shift to the opposition’s confrontation with the government. It has certainly been a short illusion. The scandal of voting Gramoz Ruçi, the desperate appearance of several deputies in their confrontation with the government’s program and the continuation of Rama’s strategy to consider the head of PD as “the good guy” with whom he is able to deal with at any time, have all been strong sounding bells to shake off Berisha and his illusion. The current PD won’t make news, and worst, could not be taken seriously. What it is happening within PD will continue to make news.
If I add to this concern, the perseverance of Basha’s opponents to continue their political path, things become obvious for the experienced politician Sali Berisha. He is convinced that the creation of a new party would eliminate PD politically in the 2019 campaign. The few remaining votes would be again divided making Rama the almighty leader.
Berisha is therefore begging his former collaborators to stick to their investment. But it is too late in time for his plea. Sali Berisha must either find a way that his so-called investment find a place in the “ownership” of PD, or let “his boys go.” The latter don’t have an option. Only a new party would be the correct political imposition to resume from PD the investment that belongs to them. The doctor must untie the rosary and toss to each, including Lulzim Basha, their bead of fate.
This article was first published at Lapsi.al and translated by Exit
