23.05.2021 – 18:57

“Do as I say, but do not do as I do”, – is a well-known expression in Albania, which was once attributed to the “village priest”, but is now being applied by political leaders in the country. The most typical of them is Lulzim Basha. Due to his position, this philosophy of his is finding application in the practice of oppositional behavior in relation to the ruling majority, international partners and the rules of the democratic game.

1.- Lulzim Basha and PD on March 10 of this year, asked the CEC not to register Tom Doshi in the lists of candidates for MPs in the April 25 elections, because according to them the persons declared “non grata” by the US, do not have a seat in Parliament. A few days ago, Sali Berisha and his family were blacklisted by the US State Department. But so far neither PD nor Lulzim Basha have clearly stated that they will apply this standard, even for the former Chairman of their party.

2.- In 2016, when he was just catapulted to the helm of the Democratic Party, after a masquerade that eliminated Sokol Olldashi, Lulzim Basha made a public statement about the elections in the Socialist Party. He accused Edi Rama of blocking elections within his party, a stance that was publicly opposed even by important figures within the Democrats. “I do not know where Lulzim Basha finds the courage to make such accusations. “He is the last to speak about democracy and free and equal elections,” said a current DP MP.

3.- Lulzim Basha, both in the electoral campaign for the 2017 parliamentary elections, and in this year’s campaign for the April 25 elections, asked Edi Rama to accept his invitation for a televised debate. But when it comes to accepting such an invitation, made by the candidates for Chairman of the Democratic Party in the race that is expected to take place on June 13, Lulzim Basha is silent. Not only has he not accepted the invitation, but he is not expected to do so, given his behavior during past farces within the party.

4.- One of the criticisms that Lulzim Basha made to Edi Rama, was the one related to the election standards, accusing him of lack of free competition. Point 3 of article 10 of the PD statute states that “the electoral system within the party guarantees the principle of free competition and equal opportunities between candidates. They are guaranteed equal rights in the electoral process and control over the manner of its realization “. The challengers accuse Basha of not having access to the process and he is not transparent.

5.- The PD statute also states that this party aims to “guarantee national security and contribute as a NATO member country and in cooperation with European institutions, the United States of America to ensure…” Does serve the fulfillment of to this end, the boycott that Lulzim Basha made to the US invitation to participate in the military training ceremony “Defender 21” in Tirana? What if this act was undertaken by Edi Rama, what would our oppositionists be saying now ?!

6.- Lulzim Basha has asked Edi Rama since the 2017 elections, but also after the burning of the mandates of the opposition deputies, to leave as Prime Minister as the only guarantee for free and fair elections, without the intervention of the government and the administration. But when it comes to the request of other candidates in the race, that he resigns as Chairman of the DP to be equal to them, Lulzim Basha pretends not to listen. The resignation of the Prime Minister is a political demand. While that of the party leader, mandatory.

7.- One of the claims made by Lulzim Basha and other oppositionists, regarding the defeat in the April 25 elections, the SP and the Prime Minister Edi Rama used the state administration, public funds and data for the voters who were on the lists, for the victory. But the candidates for DP Chairman in front of him, today accuse him of the same thing: He is using the party administration, its funds, the governing structure, the membership list, the database, the party seal, in order to win the his in this race!

That is enough to understand that the one who is ready and manages to do it himself, all the possible violations only in function of his victory in the elections within the party, accuses the opponent for them without evidence and facts. So, for all the things that Lulzim Basha is able to do himself within the Democratic Party, he accuses Edi Rama and the majority of doing them in Albania.

Come on, do not say then that Lulzim Basha is the standard of the leader who leads according to the principle: Do as I say, but do not do as I do!