Albanian voters and political leaders are to be congratulated for holding an electoral process that brings new era in country’s democracy.
By ANDI BALLA
It has been a historic week in Albania’s democracy. Albanians have voted resoundingly for a rotation of power through an electoral process deemed “quite free and fair” by international observers. The loser of the election has gracefully conceded and congratulated the winner. The winner has gracefully accepted and recognized the merits of the loser.
When it comes how elections are held, Albania’s young democracy came of age this week. It was all we could hope for.
Shortly after incumbent Prime Minister Sali Berisha accepted defeat, congratulating incoming Prime Minister Edi Rama, Vlora Citaku, Kosovo’s EU integration minister wrote on Twitter: “Albania, you make me proud!”
It gathered the sentiment of many Albanians and their friends here and abroad who want a true modern liberal democracy to thrive in Albania.
For this we say: Albania you make us all proud!
What happened this week is normal in mature democracies. But Albania has suffered in the past two decades from elections marred by violence, allegations of vote rigging and boycotts – but most importantly unwillingness of losers to accept election results. So what is normal in developed democracies, it is news in Albania. And in the case of how the process was held, this week’s outcome is very good news.
But the process is only part of the equation. Once the effervescence of the moment passes, we all know there is a lot of work to be done, and Albanian political leaders cannot rest on their laurels.
Albania faces a new political reality in the outcome of these elections. By granting the winners a three-fifths majority Albanians have placed a lot of power and responsibility on the Socialist Party and their chief allies, the Socialist Movement for Integration. What they do with that power will mark the next step in Albania’s democratic journey.
They should not use that majority to try to take over all branches of government, as the previous government did, but to preserve the balances that exist in a democracy.
Albania also faces many challenges that need to be addressed right-away. Rule of law needs to be strengthened. The economy is still hurting from the effects of the European economic crisis. Growing crime rates need to be addressed. Albanians’ needs for jobs, better healthcare and education also need proper answers. In short, there is no time to waste. The new government should quickly move to tackle such challenges.
It should also be careful with corruption – so it doesn’t fall in the same trap the previous government did. As the last elections showed, if you come to power promising to fight corruption but then one allegation after another surfaces of corrupt practices, voters will kick you out of office.
Any healthy democracy needs a strong opposition, so the Democratic Party needs to rise from the defeat, soon under new leadership, as Berisha has now resigned from all party posts after 22 years at the helm. It needs to work hard as a loyal opposition to help move the country forward in its European and democratic path. But it also needs to keep in check the next government, which must respect and address the concerns of the opposition, if it wants to continue the new spirit of cooperation this week has brought on Albania and aid Albania’s progress in its EU path.
