By Enton Abilekaj
On January 10, 2024, Edi Rama gave himself another right that he took from the opposition, to make the Electoral Code alone. The press conference from Shengjin, where this decision was announced, took place yesterday, but reporting can no longer be done without a date. These are the historical moments of the return to dictatorship, therefore every decision that serves it must have a date.
It happened in 2017, that, in agreement with Lulzim Basha, after 5 hours of non-transparent talks, the elections were held in a shorter period than the 40 days that the Electoral Code required for the registration of Coalitions. The consequence was that Edi Rama, for the first time, won without an ally, only 1 year after the complete cannabisization of the country. It was May 17, 2017, when Lulzim Basha, with a handshake in front of the Presidency of the Assembly, opened the way for Edi Rama to build personal power.
It happened in February 2019 when the opposition handed over the mandates, to leave a one-party parliament and increase the personal power of Edi Rama. It seemed as if Lulzim Basha had made the decision to no longer follow the institutional farce of a government that was caught in wiretapping, stealing the elections, denying the basic right for a country to be called democratic. It seemed as if the opposition would join the citizens to restore the free vote, as a prerequisite for the next elections. It was February 16, 2019, when the legislative power was handed over to Edi Rama.
It happened in June 2019, when the same Lulzim Basha boycotted the local elections, to pave the way for a one-party local government. It still seemed as if the path of union with the citizens was becoming inevitable, while PD was handing over all power to Edi Rama. It looked as if the citizens’ alliance with the opposition would collide with a one-man power grab, even though it had Western support. But, after the local elections, the leader of the opposition disappeared, only to appear a few months later, to sit with Damian Gjiknuri at the electoral reform table. It was June 30, 2019 when Edi Rama took over all the local government.
It happened in 2020, that after making some consensual changes, dictated by the USA and the EU, in the Electoral Code, Edi Rama broke the agreement by breaking the coalitions by law. It was an important step for the installation of personal power, the consequences of which the opposition is suffering today. It was July 30, 2020, when Edi Rama’s puppets and the remnants of the opposition voted against equality in elections.
It happened in 2021, that the result of the elections was determined by massive vote buying, in a special operation of the ruling party in cooperation with the police, the most known criminals and the biggest businessmen. Edi Rama won the third mandate. Faced with an opposition that, instead of occupying the institutions after the manipulation, chose the farce of submitting facts to the manipulation offices, had the inexplicable support of the USA and the EU, while the reports of Western observers estimated that the party-state used every means, even the purchase of votes. It was April 25, 2021 when Edi Rama won alone for the second time after announcing his ambition to govern for no less than 16 years.
It happened in May – September 2021, less than 1 month after the elections, when, instead of trying to limit the power of Edi Rama, the US dealt a blow to the opposition. The historical leader of the DP was declared non grata, while the acting leader was asked to be expelled. Instead of focusing on the backlash after the election was stolen, the opposition focused on its internal strife. The acting president decided to expel Sali Berisha, paving the way for the final split of the largest opposition party. It was September 9, 2021, when Lulzim Basha, for the umpteenth time, gave a hand in the installation of Edi Rama’s personal power.
There may be other dates before, between or after these. All mark the historical moments of the transition from a chaotic-democratic state to a personal, autocratic state that is becoming more and more totalitarian every day.
It is not only the dates, it is also the people who support it that must be marked, so that it is not forgotten this time, so as not to repeat the same guilt, so as not to plunge the country once again into the darkness where it is rapidly sinking.
If one day it will emerge from the darkness.
Today is January 11, 78 years from the day Enver Hoxha declared Albania the People’s Republic, after winning the elections of December 2, 1945, under accusations of manipulation.
/Dosja.al
