Albania Political Briefing: a Peculiar Electoral Campaign Marsela Musabelliu

ISSN: 2560-1601

Vol. 39, No. 1 (Al)

April 2021

Albania political briefing: A peculiar electoral campaign Marsela Musabelliu

1052 Budapest Petőfi Sándor utca 11.

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Kiadásért felelős személy: Huang Ping china-cee.eu 2017/01

A peculiar electoral campaign

Summary Tensions are running high in the political scene in Albania for the next general election to be held on April 25th. The very way of doing politics has adapted to the pandemic reality and the political narrative has shifted in scope and objectives. This briefing is an overview of how the electoral campaign is reflecting the Albanian reality on the ground and where do the main actors stand.

Introduction As of March 25th the electoral campaign officially started in Albania. The contenders for the “throne” of power are displaying their agendas and their intention for the future of the country, while mobilizing their base at the maximum. Commitments, assurances, pledges, promises - Albanians have heard them all. This is the time when everything seems to be focused on the people. Once every four years, politicians become humble and listen to the citizens, for the sake of one more vote.

Predominant features of the campaign As never before the electoral campaign in Albania in 2021 is particular in many ways. Due to the pandemic restriction on group gatherings and curfew after 8 p.m., there is less intensity. Yet, the logistics of it all are not the main component of this abnormal campaign.

Lack of debates As of beginning of April, there is no face-to-face debate between the main political figures. Usually the public is used to see heated debates prior to the elections, but not this time around. The Socialist Party (PS) was the first to propose this trend two years ago. They claimed that since the opposition abandoned the parliament, there is no reason for the socialists to continue debating on television studios or other media outlets. The parliament, being the institutional hall of dialogue and debate, has been very silent because confrontation are not possible without a political opponent. The debate however is not lacking, it is just transformed, from a confrontation in the arena and up close (in the parliament) to a confrontation in a distance and from the trenches. What this is doing to the public perception is intensifying tensions and disbelief.

The campaign for the April 25th elections has many issues to be debated, but three are fundamental: the government's balance sheet, the opposition program, and corruption files. If Prime Minister (PM) Edi Rama and his government were convinced of the veracity of the achievements they propagate, they would be the first to challenge the opposition in a debate. It is likely that this will not happen and the current majority will prefer to show its "truth" as a monologue. In declarations, there are many pretenses but one thing is for sure, avoidance of debates shows insecurity, on all sides. 1

It is all about people and not political principles Propaganda and promises made by politicians in election campaigns are something Albanians are used to and this time is not different. Nevertheless, a definition of politics as the "Art of deception" seems to fit very well with the country’s reality in 2021. Many political analysts attribute this to the fact that Albanian politicians do not compete with ideas and programs, but with individuals. When individuals are involved, of course the fight will get personal, futile and very often, ugly. It is hoped that people will vote for leaders that bring humanism, morality and tolerance the nation and moderates the divisiveness tones. The leaders usually try to adapt to the political philosophy of the party they lead, yet in Albania this is not happening. For years, political parties have been the cradle of power and a tool for self-accomplishment of the leaders only, and given the immense power the leader has, they have been abusing of it. The almost mercenary nature of political ranks has left no space for principles and ideals, because politics is only seen as a mean to an end.2 Due to the extreme personalization of Albanian politics, unfortunately the electoral race has taken the form of a presidential race, between two individuals, Edi Rama and Lulzim Basha. Two people on whom, the governance of the country and the fate of the future of Albania depend. Whether Albanians like it or not, this race between two individuals, in some respects has received more pronounced personalized tones. While in presidential republics there a strong and autonomous parliaments that play the role of check and balance, in Albania, their role is almost symbolic. 3

1 Zogaj, P. (202, March 18). Zgjedhjet pa debate, fyerje për qytetarët. Balkanweb. Retrieved from: https://www.balkanweb. com/zgjedhjet-pa-debate-fyerje-per-qytetaret/ 2 Kule, N. (2021, March 26). Politika apo politikani, “prishin” njeri-tjetrin? Gazeta Dita. Retrieved from: http://www.gazet adita.al/politika-apo-politikani-prishin-njeri-tjetrin/ 3 Iljazaj, E. (2021, March 12). Gara pothuajse presidenciale, midis Bashës dhe Ramës. Panorama. Retrieved from: https://www.balkanweb.com/gara-pothuajse-presidenciale-midis-bashes-dhe-rames/

Speaking about people - just days prior to the election there is an intense debate on the lists of candidates. However, this noise created for the lists for the future members of the parliament (MP), is an exaggerated and manipulative one. This commotion on who from the group, of the left or the right, will prevail is without much concrete importance for the life of Albanians. It is a noise that seeks to hide exactly the true feature of this race, that between Edi Rama and Lulzim Basha.

Twist of symbols For the PS being in power for eight years is not enough. Indeed, the socialists want to make history by being the only political party in the Albanian transition to win three terms in a row. However, given that all the political structures are now active on daily bases on the field and speaking to people, maybe not everything is sure. The true socialist voters are apparently not satisfied with their party as of 2021. During their 8 years in power, driven by PM Rama, the socialist party has been not only rebranded (Rilindja), it has changed in essence. This move was not appreciated and apparently, the polls have indicated so. In trying to attract voters, in this historic campaign the socialist symbol, the rose, is back on the spotlight. It is not sure whether this will appeal to socialist, for most of them, this is too little, too late. On the other side of the spectrum, the Democratic Party (PD) is making a detachment with the past. If the democrats of Albania have one historic symbol, that is embodied in one person, former PD leader Sali Berisha. In the launch of this campaign however, he was not present. Currently in his late 70s, nothing has stopped Berisha before in participating in a rally. At the official opening of the campaign, on March 25th he was not present. Perhaps trying to send the message of focusing on the future and on the current leader, the PD took a different path by not having Berisha as a speaker. It is well known that the opposition has its focus only and exclusively on Basha in this campaign. This was also seen in him publishing a book titled “My mission” (for which in many argue he hired a ghostwriter) where it is obvious that Basha is branding himself as the only epicenter of the party.

A “battle” of pre-elections polls Since December 2020, there is a race of polls and their interpretations. As of late March, most of them would indicate that the Socialist Party would win the next elections. Precisely 41.3% of citizens would vote the socialist, 30.8% would vote the democrats and the Socialist Movement for Integration would get 4.6%.

However, the opposition is claiming the polls are inaccurate and researchers claim there is a huge bulk of they call the “grey zone”. Indeed, as never before, the ones who do not know whether they will vote or not, or are still undecided, amounts to 30%. This grey area of voters is disturbing all parties, but mainly the PS, because they fear the opposition will absorb those votes. Still according to polls, the ‘undecided’ are ¼ young Albanians. On the other hand, international institutions has made it clear that this step towards the potential European future of Albania depends on the smooth elections process of 2021. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will send 274 observers to monitor Albania’s elections. The international security organization’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) declared that a good report on the election would be a key condition for Albania to start full negotiations to join the European Union.45

Either one or the other! As much as the political parties may desire to make this campaign about ideas and programs, it is well known that the ultimate competition is between the two leaders. This was observed also at the opening of their campaign. The official launch of both campaigns was held at one-hour and one-kilometer distance from each other. Different as they claim to be, so was their display of agendas for their followers. From one side there was the chaotic, quasi-populist leader of the right Basha. He started the campaign with cheerful and enthusiastic tones. The impatience of an opposition that is waiting to return to power after 8 years of waiting was visible. Meanwhile on the other hand, PM Rama just returned from the airport where he had brought about 200 thousand doses of Sinovac vaccine from Turkey, and the promise of brining 1 million more doses. In front of only the 140 candidates of the left.

4 Mima, G. (2021, March 18). Sondazhi IPSOS: PS fiton 48.7% të votave në rang kombëtar. Albanian Telegraphic Agency ATA. Retrieved from: http://ata.gov.al/2021/03/18/sondazhi-ipsos-ps-fiton-48-1-ne-tirane-pd-42-6- dhe-lsi-3-4/ 5 Associated Press (2021, February 19). International observers to monitor Albania’s April 25 polls. Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/article/europe-albania-elections-voting-parliamentary-elections- 3476f7ded9e38b7fff5f5c971687b694

Conclusions Besides the euphoria of the party militants, for many it seems that once again, as in the past, Albanians will have to choose the “lesser evil”. Form perception to action, from ideals to implementation, from narrative to overall feeling, this campaign is week and not appealing. The debate is as futile as its content; the main actors are dealing with logos, online views and likes, clothes they are wearing, image and obsolete matters. While Albanians are struggling, all that politics has to offer is shallowness and facade visions.