By Ben Andoni
The European passport in 2030, the future, and the few leftover tasks from past mandates are what Prime Minister Rama is now presenting to the public in his daily appearances. He explains in detail the features of the European passport and Albania’s path forward—but never why Albania remains so poor or why Albanians continue to leave the country in droves. With the patience that comes from an unquenchable thirst for power, he avoids insulting individuals or their “confusion” and instead tries to show them that Albania’s path is one of inertia toward Europe. He is so persuasive that it feels like Albania is already integrated, the negotiating chapters are closed, and only the formalities remain.
Meanwhile, over at the Democratic Party, they’re waiting for Berisha’s non-grata status to be lifted. In fact, two of the Democrats’ prominent figures, Këlliçi and Harxhi, have declared it as a done deal (!), arguing that they’ll win simply because it’s Rama himself—through his catastrophic leadership—who is handing them the opportunity to come to power. In their view, a DP victory is inevitable, unless “the vote is stolen.” And Berisha himself has ensured to warn—and even threaten—anyone who dares to consider such a scenario. The epilogue in case of a loss is already scripted: They stole the vote!
The smaller parties are busy commenting on the two main ones while also managing to promote their own ideas. Notably, Shehaj with his “Trumpian drastic measures,” and Lapaj and Shabani with the idea of remaking Albania. The right-wingers Shehi and Alibeaj continue their ground game, making their first bio-confrontation with the electorate, while Qorri persists with the stoicism of his ideals and the belief that his electorate is loyal and will stand by him.
What stands out is a lukewarm campaign and the individual effort of candidates on the ground, where the first clashes for relevance within their ranks have begun—as well as an underground battle for survival in the political jungle.
The Democratic Party seems to have “won” the next parliamentary majority already and is completely at ease, quietly awaiting the formal removal of Berisha’s non-grata status. Without delving into speculation, anything is now possible from a Trump administration—perhaps the reversal of this decision is being kept as an ace up the sleeve (!). And this could truly shake up the Albanian elections.
Meanwhile, the Socialist Party continues on its quiet course of inertia—without a program, but with a vision of the future, embodied in the EU passport. Something the Left knows how to do better than anyone: selling the appearance as substance.
But this phenomenon isn’t exclusive to the SP. It’s alive and well in the DP too. And that, more than anything, reveals the true origins of both these parties.
