Early campaign focus on the economy and social services is encouraging, but the ability of the politicians to deliver on their promises is questionable
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL
Albania’s general parliamentary elections are not due to take place for another four months, but politicians are already campaigning in full swing. There is good news and bad news in this early start of the campaign.
The good news is that political leaders have woken up and smelled the new realities in which the Albanian electoral stands: people are more interested in the economy, jobs and socials services like quality healthcare and education than the usual smear negative campaigns that come along every time Albania holds elections.
The bad news is that Albanians are in for a long ride of non-stop politicization of every minutia of life, and if the start of the campaign is any indication, negative campaigning hasn’t be replaced by the focus on the economy and healthcare, rather is simply working parallel to it.
In early gatherings taking place across Albania with supporters, political leaders are proposing an array of programs for the next four years as part of their platforms for the June 23 elections. The question is how many of these promises will actually become reality if those making the promises are elected.
Albania is in for a tough couple of years ahead, as the effects of the economic crisis reach their peak and many Albanian immigrants return home from Greece and Italy, many of them without enough means to fully support themselves in the Albania to which they return.
Even without looking to the future, the problems are already evident.
The phrase one hears in Albanian television reports day after day from residents facing problems with things like infrastructure is: “They show up with promises for the elections, get elected, and then nothing happens.”
The problem with these elections, as with previous ones, is that there is very little in a formal and official process to hold politicians to their promises when and if they are elected — other than the elections themselves, of course.
It is a reality the current government knows well. In addition to promising further progress if re-elected, the government keeps detailing why it has been successful – publishing numbers to quantify Albania’s indicators as some of the best in Europe. For the common man in the street who is feeling the effect of a growing economic crisis, such numbers are hardly any consolation, if they are believable at all.
It is something the Socialists have jumped on, at time painting a much bleaker picture than reality. In turn, even the most ardent Socialist must know the future government will have a very tough time dealing with pressing economic problems, even if it is led by a Socialist prime minister
That said, it is encouraging to see a focus on these particular topics — the economy, unemployment, healthcare and education.This is unprecedented in Albanian campaigns. And it is a positive sign Albanian politics are moving in the right direction.
Both Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Opposition Leader Edi Rama say they are certain they will win the elections. The key question now is: Will they be able to deliver tomorrow on the gilded promises of today.
