PD, escalation of resistance
The PD leadership meets. After leaving parliament, new political and organizational measures
A variety of protests, clarification of domestic and international opinion, expansion of PD structures, support for local government
The government of bullets for the opposition
By Asllan Meksqi[?]
The shades of the political atmosphere of Saturday are clear. They stem from the events of the protests in southern Albania, from the opposition rally in Tirana, from the political situation created by the blows against the opposition structures, from the state of order, security, and trafficking. These developments became the subject of review at yesterday’s meeting of the leadership of the Democratic Party.
At the center of the leadership’s decision was political and democratic protest against the government and the escalation of its resistance. All the party’s leading and organizational structures will be mobilized for a broad political action aimed at raising the awareness of public opinion at home and abroad about the serious situation the country is going through. This political campaign will explain not only the violence being exercised against the Albanian opposition, but also the difficult state of order and security, drug trafficking, prostitution, and smuggling. According to the opposition, these last are the result of the disintegration of state structures and their links with the darkest segments of the criminal world.
Alongside the increase in political activity, the PD has also decided to increase organizational activity. Its goal is to strengthen the party’s structures and its ties with the base, as well as better coordination with elected local officials. In this framework, the leadership has called for the expansion of forums and increased representation at the local level. Special attention will also be given to communication with the international factor, in order to denounce what the opposition considers political pressure and exclusion.
The meeting also assessed the situation created after the PD left parliament. According to its leaders, this move was dictated by the impossibility of carrying out normal opposition activity under conditions of pressure, violence, and government arbitrariness. Subsequently, it was requested that the forms of protest be varied, but retain their democratic and peaceful nature, in order to mobilize citizens.
A special character in the discussion was also given to support for local government, which according to the PD faces major financial and political difficulties. This support is seen as essential to preserve the space for local administration and to prevent the government’s excessive centralization.
At the end of the meeting, the leadership called for continued resistance, expanded organization, and denunciation of the situation at all levels, convinced that this is the way to confront the political and institutional crisis the country has entered.
Photograph from the opposition protests and meetings