Deputies of the Parliamentary Group of the Democratic Party gathered at 18:00, last evening, in one of the bars in Tirana, to discuss their political future, at a time when they did not join Sali Berisha.
What stands out is the fact that the vast majority of the deputies present demanded a clear distance from the former chairman of the Party, Lulzim Basha.
Sajmir Korreshi, Grida Duma, Flutura Açka and Tomorr Alizoti have made it clear that Basha has a place in the parliamentary group only as a deputy, but he can no longer be seen as the leader of the party in the future.
The only ones who asked "not to turn their backs" on Lulzim Basha were the chairman of the parliamentary group, Enkelejd Alibeaj and MP Gazment Bardhi.
Debate in the meeting
Lefter Geshtenja : I arranged this meeting together with Flamur, to talk openly, to drink a coffee, and to discuss with each other, the future of the group, and what is going well or not. I invited 34 MPs, out of 35, and I didn't invite Lulzim Basha, because some colleagues set me a condition that if it was Basha, we wouldn't come here.
Ferdinand Xhaferraj : We should make a leadership group with 3 or 5 people, and go to the local elections. So we trust you with all the decision-making. I have declared that I am part of the group here, because I am not with Sali Berisha, because Albania has no future with Berisha.
Dhurata Çupi : Gathering the group together and discussing openly with each other what works and what doesn't is a very good idea. We have passed a difficult political year with dilemmas with ourselves. Debate with conscience, are we doing the best with these attitudes. And we have faced a lot with these attitudes. One thing I am convinced is that the way we are today we are not good as a group. Let's talk openly and find the best solution. We are in constant opposition in the entire Assembly and we must maintain this position in the future.
Helidon Bushati: Undoubtedly, everyone who has contributed and gave to this political force will have to be a part of the Democratic Party, and we even urgently need the opening. Undoubtedly, we as a group will have to be open to every democrat, to every contributor at every level. But we must say one thing clearly and be determined, and this is for the benefit of the Democratic Party. We must detach ourselves from any signal and be clear that none of us is playing the game or is in favor of the return of Lulzim Basha, at the head of the DP. Undoubtedly, he has contributed, he will have to continue to contribute, but he has closed the chapter for its leadership with his resignation. In the conditions when in the public opinion we are unfairly perceived as deputies of Lulizm Bashe, I think that each of us should express his position regarding the aspirations to return to the head of the DP in Lulzim Bashe. The group must establish its physiognomy as a group and begin a coordinated political action against the government and Ed Rames. For this, we need to move from a parliamentary group that is more or less flat to a normal parliamentary group, with a pyramid system to coordinate and organize the group's work and political action.
Saimir Korreshi : Do you want to take action? We receive documents. First, to officially recognize Enkelejd Alibeaj as the head of the DP Parliamentary Group. Let's come out with a public act and say that Lulzim Basha is no longer at the head of the DP. Lulzim Basha is not seen by this group as a leader in the future. As a deputy, he has his right to be. We shouldn't call ourselves the group of Lulzim Bashes because we are not.
To set up a working group to negotiate with the other side. We need the unity of the democrats. To undo all the processes so far undertaken by the other party. To find consensual candidates for the next local elections. We should not come up with 2 candidates.
Grida Duma : I came to respect the two colleagues who invited us for coffee, for their peace and quiet integrity. I also came with the attention to listen to you, and I even expect the chairman of the group to speak clearly here, because what he has undertaken to do, after the "step behind" of the former chairman, is great but also a challenge that required political clarity. Nothing went right!
Today I am telling you all, because I came to be open, what I told the chairman of the group separately from the beginning; publicly distance yourself from the former president and declare that you are not under his influence, otherwise it will be harmful for you and for anyone else who holds this position. In addition, I have asked him to set up immediately, immediately, a representative group of the DP and to hold an open dialogue with the democrats everywhere in Albania. It is never possible to talk to the Democrats openly and without gloves, how the events happened and what awaits us under these conditions. Neither of these happened!
I have no demands and no conditions because I have stated my views publicly and more than at small tables I have been clear that I know the political reality and I emphasize to you colleagues that what you are doing is not politics but a disappearance of the contribution of these women and men here who have sacrificed and you cannot treat them formally because formality has no value. We have an obligation to those who voted for us, those who voted for us want to win and come to power. In addition to the others, it burdens and hinders you, you, not me, who are considered to be playing the game of returning someone who is not, in a party that will remain small after the seal.
If you don't remove this load of myth or this perception, you will not be able to rise. It is not a matter of what he does that will return, because in fact it is out of politics, but the matter is how you from the democrats and the public see that you are being used by someone. Only when you are free from this use can you build politically, otherwise you will only harm.
Butterfly Acka: This group cannot stay together in conditions of lack of sincerity and complete understanding. An impression has been created within the group, but also outside, that there is a cell here that works only for the return of Basha, even the names of who they are are circulating. By doing this, they inadvertently include in their action the rest of the group, which has been described as Basha's collaborators. I myself am tired of being called and reading about myself as a bashist. I do not belong there, I have made my opinion and my ideas clear. If even this group that carries this stigma does not open up and make its position clear, it will only serve to divide the group and the schism will go all the way. I defended Mr. Basha for several months in his decision, convinced that the right was with him, but they did not do it all, being good to everyone. I have appreciated and believed Mr. Basha's resignation as sincere, and if after it work is done for his return by certain small groups, creating islands in the group, with positions that are neither meat nor fish and without clear political actions, I will feel the need to distance myself. Attitudes must be clear and public, such that they do not offend anyone, but serve unification and the democrats who expect from us. I don't want to be used. If I feel this, I will decide on a different political approach for myself. such that do not offend anyone, but serve the unification and the democrats who expect from us. I don't want to be used. If I feel this, I will decide on a different political approach for myself. such that do not offend anyone, but serve the unification and the democrats who expect from us. I don't want to be used. If I feel this, I will decide on a different political approach for myself.
When I left Lulzim Basha's office, after he proposed me to be a deputy, I saw in the corridors the same people who hang out with Sali Berisha. There I thought that Sali Berisha never ran away from the PD, that the PD is still led by Sali Berisha. I have received many costs during this time. What I never forgive are the comments about my son. I thought about resigning after that moment. But I didn't because I had obligations to voters and Democrats.
Enkelejd Alibeaj : I grew up persecuted and I know what it means to turn your back on another. I do not turn my back on Lulzim Basha. We have made opposition. Lulzim Basha has no effect and impact on our group. He has resigned.
Tomor Alizoti : The opponent of this parliamentary group is Basha and not Berisha. Berisha has chosen his own path and built his own structure, Bashe's shadow falls on this group. Without undertaking a political act where the parliamentary group does not accept the return of Basha as chairman, if this group continues on this political journey, it is headed for annihilation. In politics, one does not judge with emotion but with reason, political factors choose the terrain. Berisha is a political reality, we must find ways to communicate with him. If this group does not distance itself from Basha, I am not even conditioning myself for such a meeting. The finalization must be the union of the Democrats.
Gazment Bardhi : We are not here to declare Lulzim Basha an enemy, we have gathered for fun. Even Berisha himself is not mentioning it anymore. I do not deny that I contacted Lulzim Basha, because there is nothing for me to declare Basha an enemy, as some did here for 4 hours. This seems staged for media consumption, since Sali Berisha himself no longer mentions Lulzim Basha.
DEPUTIES PRESENT
Kreshnik Çollaku
Gazment Bardhi
Dhurata Çupi
Helidon Bushati
Andia Ulliri
Ervin
Salianji Bledjon Nallbati
Arbi Agalliu
Lefter Gestenja
Flamur Hoxha
Eralda Bano
Merita Bakiu
Kastriot Piroli
Ferdinand Xhaferraj
Emilia Koliqi
Seladin Jakupllari
Zheni Gjergji
Dashnor Sula
Grida Duma
Orjola Pampuri
Enkelejd Alibeaj
Flutura Achka
Tomor Alizoti
Saimir Korreshi