The CIA’s claws in Albania
From Berisha’s office to the mysterious “occupation” of Sazan
Nano, a different move
BY BLENDI FEVZIU
What began as a routine meeting, the Tirana Conference yesterday recorded the most interesting political development within the ranks of the PS. Chairman Uqini resigned, and Fatos Nano proposed one of his party opponents, the Eurosocialist Chairman Ilir Meta, as his replacement. What is more, with a certain sense of humor, he proposed that the candidacy not be put to a vote, offering everyone his consensus.
Nano’s surprising decision, which has prompted comments and speculation across the Albanian political spectrum, could hardly have failed to shock, first of all, his own party activists. Some of them, present in the hall, may have recorded this as yet another of the Chairman’s incomprehensible and mysterious actions, alongside his attendance at a rock concert, his participation in and presentation at a commemorative session on the anti-communist reflections of the anarchist Edi Rama in 1991, his declaration that the party program is center-right, and the selection of a staff with no notable contribution to the PS...
A normal analysis leads to a different conclusion. The phenomenon of contradictions between a party chairman and other leaders close to him has been one of the best-known phenomena in Albania in recent years. The history of political parties records plenty of such cases, which have a consistent outcome. The chairman has never been defeated, and his opponents have been removed from the party leadership. This is what happened in 1991, 1992 and 1997 with Berisha; in 1994 with Gjini; also in 1994 with Ceka; in 1991 and 1992 with Godo; and in 1992, and later, with Nano.
Armed with this experience, Nano has adopted a new approach. He has not summarily removed his opponents, but has offered them cooperation. With this move, he has eliminated the risk of an aggressive faction at the congress and the possibility that this faction might undermine his government’s policies. For the first time since winning the election, Nano has found himself facing the most frightening phenomenon: public criticism of the personnel policy he is pursuing. The activists’ talk does not address criticism of the broad space granted to the coalition or the Prime Minister’s idea of not repeating the PD’s style of governing. Put more simply, this means: be content with what you feel you deserve, and be rewarded according to your merit. But this motto, normal for many, may provoke the anger of many others. This very anger, which “teshares së kuqe”. This very anger, which could find shelter in his rivalry with other leaders, has now been left orphaned. Unlike Berisha with the motion supporters of 1992, Nano has brought his opponents into politics within the party. He has shared responsibilities with them, while at the same time cutting off every route for them to climb to the number-one position.