Sali Berisha: What He Said, Implied, and What This Means

The standpoint of Sali Berisha toward the developments in the PD, especially after the dramatic election defeat, has been an important factor for many within and outside the party. His considerable authority over the PD, the widespread belief of the public opinion that he understands and knows full well how things work, has left many waiting for his opinion. Meanwhile, one of the main reasons or excuses for the harsh attitude against Basha, the anti-Basha clan has insinuated or confirmed the fact that Berisha is disappointed and reluctant toward Basha, and doesn’t support him anymore.

An announcement of Berisha, during the voting day of elections within the PD, besides legitimizing the election process, seemed once again unclear.

The long interview with Çim Peka last week hasn’t left any doubt about Sali Berisha’s standpoint towards Basha and his group of rivals within the party.

What Berisha said

• The tent of the PD was an extraordinary find of the Basha to carry on the political action against Rama government.
• The Rama–Basha agreement was a victory for Basha and succeeded in tumbling half of Rama’s government.
• The deputy list was compiled exclusively by Basha without consulting Berisha. The list’s approval went against the party’s statutes. Some exceptions from the list were unmotivated. Berisha himself would have compiled another list.
• Basha was mistaken in the handling of his militants, because he tried to give the tent the image of a people’s tent, while it was a party’s tent.
• Edi Rama was able to claim the agreement as his victory and to create the impression that PS and PD had come to an agreement to co-govern after the elections. This action pushed away the militants of the PD, and several of them decided to boycott the elections.
• Lulzim Basha’s advisors who studied the public opinion and prepared his electorate messages failed completely because Basha’s messages were wrong and didn’t work out with the electorate.
• The ones dissatisfied with Basha’s decisions, including Berisha himself, must find the solution within the PD and not contribute to its division.
• All of Basha’s opponents have been chosen politically by Berisha, it was Berisha who made them deputies, and it was Berisha’s choice to include them in the lists.
• It is up to Basha to decide to change the status of the party and the party itself as a reflection of the present situation.
• Berisha himself will never again play any role or exert any influence on the decision making of PD, which belongs completely to Basha.

What Berisha implied

• Berisha supported and rather was an accomplice in the decision making process of all of political decision of Basha, including the tent, the agreement with Rama, and the removal from the list of former high officials of the party and government of the PD.
• Lulzim Basha is the legitimate and powerful leader of the PD and enjoys the full support of Berisha.
• The ones who feel let down by Basha can feel rightfully so, because even Berisha feels the same, but they must rather express their dissatisfaction like Berisha, in a way not attacking Basha personally and not doubting his legitimacy as the party’s leader. Basha’s opponents cannot and will not be permitted to bring about the PD’s division.
• None of Basha’s opponents has any merits or rights over others aspiring to be Basha’s successor in PD, therefore none of them can pretend to have priority over Basha in terms of contribution or ability.
• In the 2013 race, Sokol Olldashi and his supporters (the current group of opponents of Basha, more or less), had gained control over the governing structures of PD and they were sure to win the leadership of PD. But they were totally detached from common members. And due to this, Berisha, who favored Basha in the race, decided to elect the new leader using the “one member one vote” method and not the National Assembly, as required by the party’s statute.
• Lulzim Basha must reflect on what has happened and to derive lessons form the elections and the decisions that he will take in the future. Lulzim Basha must, above all, find a way to calm and mobilize the PD’s membership.

The influence of Berisha’s viewpoint on the party-internal conflict

• Lulzim Basha is the undisputed legitimate leader of PD and his position is untouchable, at least until next elections. Berisha has not made space for doubting the legitimacy of Lulzim Basha at the head of PD. He will not support any attempt made from anyone that desires Basha’s departure, and what’s more, he won’t forgive anyone who will fracture PD in an attempt to fight Lulzim Basha.
• Basha’s opponents have only two alternatives: to remain with PD, despite their dissatisfaction, meaning that they will complete their political career without damaging PD, or to leave immediately and create another party. PD is once and for all closed to them.
• Militants and common members of PD, especially those who identify PD with Berisha, are now clear that if they are still with Berisha, they must unite and support Basha.
• Lulzim Basha, for now, has taken everything, but his political future is now connected to the electoral fate of the PD in future elections. Basha has no excuse for another electoral defeat and his position at the top of the PD, after a similar loss, will be impossible without really destroying PD.

Fjalë kyçe:   Lulzim Basha, PD, Sali Berisha