The guards take Berisha to court
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Parliament convened, Berisha left us, Pollo came up short
Yesterday, the new Parliament convened. Yesterday, Berisha resigned. Yesterday, Pollo could not read a statement.
These were, briefly, the main events of yesterday. Naturally, Berisha’s spectacular resignation drew the most attention. In a small circle around him, the former President of the Republic had said that he would fight to the end from atop the presidential barricade. In fact, that is what happened. Despite the pressure put on him, Berisha resigned only at the very end, around midday yesterday. This was Sali Berisha’s final act as head of state, perhaps the only act of his that enjoys everyone’s support at this time. In his statement, Berisha reminded Albanians of the good things they had had under his regime and undertook to remain in politics like a nail driven in deep.
It is not difficult to explain what happened to this charismatic politician, who became President following a direct demand by Albania’s desperate citizens. The five-year metamorphosis of the head of democratic television is undoubtedly the most interesting in all the former communist countries of the East. This metamorphosis degenerated into absurd totalitarianism in a country bound by a long dictatorship.
The Socialists got their act together. Now they have no obstacles left to forming a government, making laws—in short, administering their victory. Their plan to have Berisha declared insane by a two-thirds majority was thwarted by his resignation. They can now form a cabinet headed by Nano, with all the powers. They can appoint Mejdani as a ceremonial President. They can pass left-wing laws, because they have a majority. They can make the same mistakes that the maximum power gave their predecessors the opportunity to make.
It is not known how the Socialists will manage their victory. For now, more than making statements, they have been gossiping, and yesterday they wrapped it up with a lukewarm KPD meeting. The PS is now free to show how the former communists, who dream of NATO and European institutions, can govern.
Pollo was unable to make a statement yesterday. His boss must surely have been angry when he learned more about Pollo’s failure. The Socialists, who have had MPs since 1991, are no longer allowed scenes like Ceha. Back then, the DP’s boycott was admirable, whereas today the protagonists are different to the point of absurdity. Pollo could not speak before Parliament, but he spoke to the journalist. That, surely, has not made him the PS’s messenger.
Yesterday, Albanians showed once again that they know how to celebrate only with gunfire. They accompanied the news of Berisha’s departure with a burst of bullets, which rang out in this scorching heat of earthquakes. Perhaps the presence of a state will teach them that there are other ways to have fun.
MPs welcome the opening, but not the mandate Page 3
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