DECISIVE DAY / Historic elections in the Democratic Party: Who will the Democrats vote for?

2026-05-21 23:48:47Patronazhisti SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

DECISIVE DAY / Historic elections in the Democratic Party: Who will the

TIRANA – The debates, clashes, presentations of programs and alternatives between candidates on the path that the Democratic Party should follow are now behind us. Very soon, the Democrats will vote for the new party leader, in a historic moment for the future of the most opposition party in the Albanian opposition.

Analysts agree that these elections will determine the course that the DP will follow from now on to keep the Socialists in power:

Will it continue the path of confrontational protests and episodes of violence, inspired by the current leader, where in many cases protesters have thrown Molotov cocktails at each other, inadvertently hit Nuli with an umbrella, or set reporters and photographers on fire?

Will the new leader – if he wins – choose the path of dialogue with the majority, for the good of the country, where despite ideological and programmatic differences, the parties will sit together to complete the new territorial reform and to divide which beaches and coastal areas belong to one party, and which to the other?

These and many other dilemmas – including how many skyscrapers and tourist resorts each party will build in the coming months and years – will be answered on election day for the new mayor.

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The candidates have closed their campaigns in the center and in the districts, and the final word now belongs to the membership. Polls have made it almost impossible to provide a clear picture of which of the candidates is the most preferred.

"This is because all three contenders are right there with points," said renowned pollster Zalo Foshnja to Patronažistin, "my latest survey showed that each of the three receives 33.3% of the membership votes. I have never seen a closer race than this!"

Thus, even though his long tenure at the head of the party has worn him out, many Democrats want current leader Sali Berisha to remain at the helm of the DP.

Asked by Patronage, second-grade democrat Nuri Qypi declared: " I do not change my preference for Sali Berisha. He has been both president and prime minister, and he knows the tricks of the government. When he says he will bring us to power, this work is over. In fact, every week he almost brings us to power! Have you seen when we gather in front of the prime minister's office and get closer and closer to it? For ten meters of work, and one day we will be inside!"

"Rama is leaving!", added Mr. Qypi.

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But there are also those Democrats who think that the party's leadership needs to be refreshed.

Such is 55-year-old Gjon Mark Markagjon Gjekmarkaj, who declares that the old rascals who have asphyxiated the DP must understand that their time has come.

"Therefore, I will cast my vote for the Doctor, " he declared, " enough with the seniority. A new style of leadership is needed, fresh ideas. The Doctor's project for the new DP has convinced me."

And John mentioned the Doctor's call for the party's propaganda and appeals to the working masses and the landless cooperative peasantry to focus more on social networks such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Tinder, OnlyFans, etc.

"Here is a modern leader for a modern party as befits the 19th century. Before Doctor! Rama is gone ," emphasized Gjoni, and with him Mark Markagjon Gjekmarkaj.

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But 42-year-old pedagogue Merita Sojsëzi, who has also served in the SP, then in the LSI, then again in the SP, then for about six months with the Environmentalist Agrarians and most recently in the DP, does not think so.

"I know all the parties well, and I tell you with conviction that the new DP should not be led by either Sali Berisha or the Doctor, although I have nothing against them. My vote this time is for Doctor Berisha, he deserves it! "

Asked how she could have been on the forums of so many parties, Ms. Sojsëzi admits that she was lied to.

"They took me by the throat, I was young and naive," she said with regret, " but now they know they can't lie to me anymore, so both the Socialists and the LSI accuse me of stealing funds when I was director and not giving my share to the leadership. That's all they can do, I'm not going back to the Socialists!"

"I was just appointed to Albkontroll, I can think about it once. Long live Doctor Berisha," added Merita Sojsëzi.

Note: Patronažisti is a satirical column that encourages the diversity of alternatives and candidates.


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