By Ben Andoni
Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had a remarkable ability when speaking to the public. Instead of making unattainable projections, she was able to clearly and concisely explain her ideas and vision for the state.
But it was the former Communist East and all its derivatives that would come to better understand her messages and the “simplicity” of her politics during the Speech at the Forum of Eastern and Central European Entrepreneurs in St. Petersburg in the early 1990s. At that point, she was no longer Prime Minister—after serving three full terms—but still carried the aura of a tough and uncompromising stateswoman, credited with lifting the United Kingdom in the 1970s and ’80s. In fact, the label “Iron Lady,” a phrase that came to define her straightforward politics and leadership style, was coined by a Russian journalist and spoke volumes about how her figure was perceived.
Thatcher stunned her audience—who had sent her the invitation 4-5 months earlier signed under the name Leningrad—by arriving in the now-renamed white city of St. Petersburg with measured words and clear sentences. Her lesson in politics and democracy served not only as a wake-up call for her listeners, but also for her own countrymen.
She emphasized democracy, particularly its foundation in political parties, stating:
“First, democracy will not work without strong political parties. These parties must be built around great issues of principle and philosophy, and you must distinguish these from all those secondary details on which party members may and should legitimately disagree.”
This strikes at the heart of the problem with our own democracy. Our political parties—despite Rama’s electoral victories with the Socialist Party and Berisha’s uncontested grip on the Democratic Party—lack clear philosophy and principles. Even more troubling is the fact that their supporters are blind to the secondary issues which, in reality, dominate and are fundamentally rooted in self-interest and privilege. Yet, for Albanian politics and its militants, there’s a consolation: personal gain matters more.
“And if party politics does not always seem to live up to your highest expectations,” Thatcher continued, “please remember that you are by no means unique. Politics always reflects the character and calibre of those who practice it—and, inevitably, of those who elect them.”
In short, the blame lies not with others but with our own momentary choices—the very ones that continue to keep Albania entangled in this state of affairs. A situation in which our politics, with its unrelenting cynicism, never fails to disappoint—especially in the weeks leading up to elections.
Thus, the woman known for her fierce political demeanor, who even initiated a war, reminded us that “only the politics of democratic parties can prevent the permanent and unquestioned imposition of bad government upon the people.” She explained this to an audience that absorbed her every word. Yet, decades later, this awareness has yet to awaken Albanians—who remain easily manipulated, just as our politics continues to be accepted with all its supposed visions, many of which are empty promises.
Without democratic political parties, there can be no democracy for the country.
The 2025 elections are yet another test of our ability—or inability—to build the state of the future. And it’s really quite simple. It must start with political parties. Thatcher showed her Eastern contemporaries how to do so—35 years ago.
(Published in Javanews)
