PD - Party of the centre-right, the party of the majority
Prof. Dr. Tritan Shehu, Secretary General of the PD
What best distinguishes Albanian politics in relation to the pluralism of the countries of Eastern and Central Europe is, among other things, the fact that in our country the left-wing opposition confronts and fights the right-wing government and not a centrist government. This political reality best reflects the indisputable truth that the Albanian government and the government of the Democratic Party since January 1992 have been and have always been a right-wing government. As early as July 1992, at the Second Congress of the PDSH, this political force clearly defined its place in the Albanian political spectrum, taking on the attributes of a centre-right party. In particular, this definition was based on the concept and practice in the field of human and family rights and freedoms, in economic and social reform, in the field of governance, etc. In overall terms, this meant a clear break from the Marxist ideology of dictatorship, as well as a clear orientation toward a social-conservative philosophy that was best embodied in the governance of the country. Everyone understands that the PD government, from its very beginnings, has been based on a comprehensive economic and social liberalization, while consistently maintaining the concept of constitutional government, with the important role and place of the state, in keeping with the conditions of a transitional society. Remaining consistent with this orientation clearly defined since 1992, the left-wing forces in Albania, and especially the socialists, vainly try to sway domestic and foreign public opinion to the contrary, presenting the Democratic Party as an extreme-right force. Their efforts in this direction are part of internal political calculations and aim to prevent the clear affirmation of the right-wing spectrum in Albania.
This clarity has been and remains important also in the Democratic Party's relations with foreign partners. The PD's accession to the Democratic Christian International, its relations with centre-right parties in Europe, as well as its support for the market economy and the rule of law, are concrete evidence of its political profile. This places the PD not merely as a temporary governing force, but as the majority party that represents broad social interests and Albania's Western orientation.
Within this framework, ideological clashes with the left are inevitable. They are linked to the interpretation of the past, the pace of reforms, the relationship between the state and the market, as well as the concept of pluralist democracy. But regardless of the polemical tone, what remains essential is that the Albanian political scene is consolidating around a clear axis: the governing right and the opposition left. This is a significant difference from many other post-communist countries, where ideological boundaries have been less clear.
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