From Piro Ahmetaj
Even though it was foreseen by myself and others, there is deep regret among Democrats for the 4th devastating losses, but also disgust towards the co-authors of the regarding law and those responsible for the tainted May 11 elections, which confirmed 140 vacancies in the assembly’s roster, but (after 34 years) worsened even more the Euro-Atlantic Albania reputation.
Unfortunately, this election once again failed to produce a solution or a democratic rotation of power. Instead, with 95 MPs appointed (not elected by the vote of citizens) by the “super-Leaders”, they exposed the political crisis of a façade pluralism, a failed democracy, a deep and captured state, and the abuse of PM power, funds, mechanisms, and the state administration to secure another four years in power.
In my capacity of political engagements for the protection and development of the national and Euro-Atlantic interests of the Republic of Albania, I present this summary regarding these masquerade elections:
Human society has not yet found a better system or a healthier remedy than political pluralism, free elections, and a free market economy. Thus, regardless of political beliefs, opposition to the government, or interest in power, I hope we can all calmly agree on the following: “there is a screaming necessity for our Nation, for Democrats, for Socialists – for all Albanians – for a political rotation of power”!
However, beyond the Bolshevik frenzy for another 4 years in power, or the legitimate despair of Democrats over yet another loss for the fourth time, the May 11 elections produced no winners. Worse yet: “Albania is the big loser; pluralism, both the Left and the Right remains kneecapped by the Grandiose Leaders of 2 respective Parties, and as a result, the freedom of vote and the future of Albanians remain threatened by a façade democracy, also a failed and deep state”
To anyone who might be offended while enjoying the super-victory, or to Democrats embittered by 16 years in opposition, I must emphasize that nowhere else in the democratic world (except Putinist Russia, Belarus, etc.) are 95 MPs – i.e., more than a qualified majority – appointed by two Super-Leaders. The remaining (45) were elected in a cynical battlefield, and aside from receiving salaries from the state budget and enthusiastically clapping for so called the “Grand Leaders”, they have zero weight or decision-making power.
In short, the law branded by the consensus of shame (the only one in the last 16 years) and the results of May 11 have cemented the autocracy of the 2 Grand Party Leaders, deepening the crisis of pluralism, façade democracy, and urinating on the Parliamentary Republic.
FIRSTLY, even though the PM- Rama in shorts, in the Kuçi Memorandum, ridiculously appointed 83 MPs, the May 11 elections were not won by the Socialist Party (SP), but by the power of the (All-) Powerful PM, through the abuse of institutions and the state administration (+200 thousand patronage workers and 740 thousand pensioners), as well as with sultan-style handouts of public money and property, all with the aim of: “retaining power at any cost, as if the Republic of Albania were Burkina Faso, Mali’s Junta, Djibouti, and not a 16-year NATO member country”!
With sneaky irresponsibility, the owner of the former-SP diverted the failures of the past 12 years by invoking slogans like: “not abandoning the country; employing 300 thousand young people; free healthcare; zero taxes on fuel, bread, and eggs; zero political influence on road costs, incinerators, concessions, and ZERO corruption,” even though the no. 2 of the government called hiss boss PM-Rama a “Criminal Organization” as did the Mayor of Tirana, Ministers, MPs, etc, now sleep in prison cells or wake up at SPAK’s doorstep.
The election battle toward May 11 was (de)focused by the PM through a public trial against the return of “Gogol-Berisha,” evoking the elections of May 26; the killings of 1997–1998, Gërdec, January 21; loyalty to the ally of misfortunes; and hatred toward Like-gold (who is in prison). He also brought up the compromise of national interests with Beleri criminal case (1994); and used mockery of age (from non-grata to swamp owl), not sparing even the renowned USA election expert Mr. Chriss LaCivita, whom he degraded to “Uncle Latif”.
On the other hand, he re-invented and privatized the European aspiration of Albanians a dream that for 34 years has been exploited by successive rulers solely for maintaining or gaining power. During this campaign, the PM exceeded every egocentric delusion: “He himself, the greatest of all, will take by the hand a beautiful woman/girl to seat Albania in the EU chair”.
In short, as long as there are such Great PM, the Republic of Albania has no need for elections, nor for opposition, since only He knows, loves, and works for the progress of the Nation!!!
Practically speaking, even the owls know that just like the President, the Ministers, and the closed lists of 46 with rare exceptions the 37 open ones too (altogether 83 MPs), were not selected based on merit, knowledge, integrity, or distinguished values, but solely because they had passed the tests of submission to the glorious leader. It is regrettable that in the stew pot of this political mess, a few rational minds from the former Socialist Party also fell in, legitimizing the 16-year grip on power with tunnels, roads, and public investments. Hopefully, they are well aware that even the most perfect opposition doesn’t build roads or make investments, meaning the Albania will have no real chance of a political rotation of power.
SECONDLY, considering the criminal abuse of (over) Power in the elections with 326,000 fewer votes and 33 fewer MPs than the SP the opposition,, so DP with only 50 “shameful deputies” and led by Sali Berisha, was both betrayed and robbed, but still lost the May 11 elections in a sinful manner.
Enough is enough. As Senior Expert National Security Reform and NATO Integration, I publicly call on Mr. Berisha to submit his irrevocable resignation from the position of chairman of the Democratic Party, a call that also extends to the 20 DP leaders and blue-Commissaries of the 12 districts.
I srongly believe that only resignation can pave the way for a transparent, inclusive, thorough, and healthy process of transformation. Any delinquent attempt to cling to chairs and positions, or to control the reform of the right-wing, would be a second shameful funeral for the DP (the first being in July 2021), and would disgrace its actors permanently.
To complete this call for resignation, let me underline: DP lost sinful the May 11 elections “with full merit” due to self-delusion, petty calculations, and sinful silence, because instead of presenting to the Democrats and the Albanian people candidates with outstanding integrity, the spirit and alliance of right-wing values (not cheap opportunists and looters), you humiliated them with a list that was “already worn-out/second-hand“: filled with gifts for phantom party leaders (with no members), recycled warriors from the disgraceful battle over PD’s locks (January 8, 2022), and losers from the last 4 parliamentary elections; including former officials deeply corrupt to the point of sin, and extremists with terrorist backgrounds, such as the Beleri, against national integrity and interests!
You (Mr.Berisha) fueled to the point of delirium the rhetoric of “leading a global battle against Soros” like Comrade Enver’s global proletariat war against the USA & USSR; signed deals like the “Mule contracts” to pay for lifting non grata statuses in the USA and UK; and mythologized the power of Mr. Chriss LaCivita (as the Sheriff/Messiah who would bring victory from White House), all of which insulted open-minded voters and shattered the hopes of desperate Democrats after 12 years in opposition.
Certainly, I am not happy, but I am “honored indeed ” that I consciously chose not to be part of your sinful defeat, which I had warned about from our first meeting after my return from Washington (January 5, 2025). I conveyed to the acting chairman my confidential assessments and advice: “not to remain hostage to personal debts and myths (the leader who keeps his word), especially not to the Gazi/Seal group, nor to fellow fighters over the PD locks, nor to the chairmen of the phantom parties (without members)”. I also urged him to free the Democratic Party from the trap of a kamikaze battle for safe-list seats, by having Mr. Berisha be the first to step outside the bunker of the 30% handpicked MPs, a gesture that should have been imposed on the central political leadership and all 12 regions”!
Due to his age, I can of course express regret for Mr. Berisha, but I express disappointments that he sealed the most worn-out and discredited figures in the eyes of both Democrats and the Albanian public inside the “closed list bunker”, while leaving for the frontlines (the open list) individuals of outstanding integrity and civic character such as Alimehmeti, Tabaku, Spahija, Ted Kopliku, Celi/FR, Kalaja/DR, Fidel Kreka, and others. Meanwhile, the rest were either local delinquents or incompetents, ready to clash with one another for the Chairman and his 40 bunker loyalists”.
Thus, resignation is not a plea nor a polite gesture, but a duty and the responsibility for the sinful defeat of May 11. Stop deceiving the Democrats. Despite the consequences of the shameful (jointly voted) law and the criminal abuse of power, the May 11 elections have already been certified and congratulated by the leaders of the democratic countries.
Therefore, I sincerely advise you to step out of the trap of further discredit, instead of attending forums and seminars (such as the IDU case, where the highest-ranking “honored” participants were the PM of Chile and a former Ukrainian President), especially after such a fatal loss, and on the very date when the leaders of 52 European countries (EU and non-EU) were in Tirana to honor Skanderbeg’s flag and promote Albania’s European dream. So It would have been far more serious and dignified to meet those state leaders in Tirana, to express the opposition’s appreciation for their support of Albania and voice your concerns regarding the May 11 elections!
Likewise, I urge you to abandon the sinful dragging of the Democrats into another so-called “revolution” (alla-Luli), alongside Bardhi of Zengjine, misused Alma for Gjici’s lusts, the flag of Beleri from Himara, and the perverse revolt against the people and journalists by known vote thieves (who stole votes for Lulzim in July 2021), individuals branded as democracy’s saboteurs, or simple-minded people who line up at SPAK’s gates every Monday to demonstrate shameful devotion to the “Father-Leader Berisha” !
Meanwhile, I can only pray “forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do” — for all those lunatics who blame the West and threaten to surrender the U.S. Embassy (!), or who cry and refuse to not resign while delivering pathetic praise to the “immortal leader,” just like in the old days with Comrade Enver, who supposedly never slept and sewed his own socks…etc.
Fortunately, the May 11 elections also confirmed some winners, such as Ms. Jorida Tabaku and Dr. Ilir Alimehmeti. Around 40,000 free citizens entrusted them not for the sake of the DP nor for Berisha sake, but only because of their exemplary civic character, noble right-wing roots, the strength of reason, outstanding integrity, and political responsibility, “rejecting and defying even the kamikaze race for safe list positions”. Therefore, this vote carries the hope that Albania can and will become democratic, despite the corrupt politicians who, after stealing the votes, privatizing political parties and constitutional institutions, have ruled over Albanians for the past 34 years.
I also express my respect for the courage shown by the leaders of the four political entities in the May 11 masquerade, who, together with 170,000 votes (deserving around 16 MPs), with 4 MP managed to discredit the system of shame. Having said this, I sincerely hope that in the next elections, this “attempted experience” will be considered as a lesson to move past primitive grudges namely:
“to unite around a compelling opposition capable of bringing about the rotation of political elites (as the owners) and of power in the Republic of Albania”.
A summarizing message: “Even after such a sinful defeat as that of May 11, I see no reason for anyone to kneel in despair. On the contrary, it should serve as a stronger motivation for all who believe in the mission of returning 100% of the power of the free vote or to turn the stolen power back to the citizens”.
With that said, I make a brotherly appeal to the noble-minded Democrats and all Albanians:
“Beyond the despair of this latest loss, let us unite around faith in the free vote to achieve political rotation in the party and in power, alongside the return of Albania to the tracks of functional democracy, like in the USA and across Democratic Europe”!
On this occasion, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the tens of thousands of friends (inside and outside the country), concerned intellectuals and patriots, as well as ordinary citizens, for their thoughtful messages, concerns, and words of encouragement in support of my political engagement after retiring from service. I publicly assure you all that: “I remain even more committed to contributing, with my Euro-Atlantic experience, humility, and political responsibility to the protection and advancement of national interests and Euro-Atlantic values in the Republic of Albania”!
