By Ben Andoni
The fourth mandate of the Socialists will be a challenging one for Albania. There’s a promise that the country will soon open all the integration cluster chapters and embark on the difficult phase of aligning legislation in order to close them one by one. The new methodology is attractive and seductive, but the real climb begins when the chapters start to open and close.
The opposition will be present in parliament and, for many of the integration requirements, it will have to show readiness. This will significantly dim its battle for the elections. The harsh narrative of Berisha, Vokshi, Noka, and others will fade, because once the vote recount is over, the PD base and members will start demanding accountability.
But that’s not the end of it. The harshness of those who treat PD as their private property will face a major challenge: the “unknowns” that the Socialist Party will pit against them from now on. And it wouldn’t be surprising if the Socialists filled even the Executive with such figures—first, to avoid giving too much fuel to the disgruntled within their own ranks, and second, to further exhaust and divide the Democratic Party, which will have to dig deep in Berisha’s style to find faults in these new types of opponents.
The real challenge, however, remains Albania itself. The large-scale corruption that Rama & Co. can’t fight, his disregard for the opposition, the structured weakening of the economy, the heavy concentration of power, and a wave of cynical young people entering the scene. These new faces in parliament will leave PD’s people confronting their own internal crisis—something that will only deepen with time and with the challenges that lie ahead. The 2025 election narrative will be forgotten in a matter of days, because the situation is chaotic on all fronts, while Albania will be facing other pressing issues—issues for which the opposition isn’t to blame, but is also incapable of standing on the front line.
Across the aisle—or perhaps in the Executive—there will likely be many young individuals who not only see Berisha as an outdated phenomenon but are also largely indifferent to the opposition’s condition. Sadly, Albanians will be faced with a parliament of unidentifiable figures, ones who haven’t proven themselves yet but who will be expected to carry the weight. Meanwhile, on the PD side, there’s a “solid” group—hardened by loss.
Still, one thing hasn’t changed: Rama has made himself and will continue to make himself the master of the country, while Berisha remains the attack dog—only now, he’s lost his bite. People no longer need leaders who look tough. They need leaders who are tough—through their principles, ideas, and character. Rama shows his toughness with the system he’s constructed. Berisha, sadly, shows his with his weariness from court appearances and the broken promise to step aside. Now, he’ll have to contend with PS’s “unknowns,” who will torture him with that Rama-style indifference. And in this mandate, there are just a bit too many of them—over 80, in fact.
(Javanews)