By Alba à‡ela
For every political fight, gridlock or even full-fledged crisis in Albania there are two mirroring battles: one is conducted at the high level, in the capital, in front of many cameras, in the institutions lining the main boulevard (the boulevard of the Martyrs), is made up of declarations full of complex words and elongated phrases, equivocal concepts and grand scale conspiracy theories. It invades the stages of political talk shows, it becomes a sensation in the Internet.
Another battle, part and core of the same one is conducted away from the red pulsating camera lights, with a simple slang of the everyday laymen, in the cities and villages and little towns of the country. This is the battle for survival. It takes place in the grey corridors of public institutions, in the smoke filled cafes (usually full of men and boys), in the closed meetings of political parties’ local branches.
The first battle has some loopholes politicians that fall some place get second chances, some rise again, some get amnesty. Some get cleverer and make coalitions. Even politicians that depart from the system have enough financial cushions and influence around business, university posts and media access to lead generally comfortable lives. The first battle is, even though not always, forgiving. The second one is not.
The second battle concerns police officers, teachers, nurses, municipality employees, guards, cleaning ladies. It is a battle to retain their jobs, their main sources of income. For the slightly privileged ones, directors of some sort, supervisors, it is a battle to save those privileges, assets, opportunities for their children and extended families, the little tender on the side. However, once you lose on this local ‘game of thrones’ you are out for good. Only recently some talented players have discovered that they can shed their skin and join other parties to be reborn. Parties that run usually under labels such a kingmakers.
The political battle in Albania was enriched this week with the (finally) open conflict between coalition partners: SP and SMI. At the local level their sympathizers are one step ahead, already at each other’s throats, being asked by party regional coordinators to fight for each vote, each job place, each Facebook like and share.
As the current political crisis deteriorates in Albania let’s try to remember the second battle. For as much mesmerizing this tense, complex exchange of rhetoric and strategic political performance might be let’s try not to lose focus and just try to empathize with the people, the soldiers dragged to the game. Our fellow citizens that watch with a sweaty palms and shortened breath. They are asking themselves what they will do to save their jobs. What they will be asked, how much they will need to suffer, how much dignity they will let go. They have something real to lose. The others are maybe just enjoying the game.
