2026-10-10 17:23:00Pikëpamje SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Albania has had many men throughout its history who have taken on great destinies. Skanderbeg fought against the Ottoman Empire, Ismail Qemali declared Independence, and Erion Braçe was tasked with saving fifteen municipalities from territorial reform.

The difference was that Skanderbeg had an army, Ismail Qemali had delegates, and Erion had only one vote. But this did not bother the Albanians at all. They were confident that Erion would find a way to succeed. After all, Albanians have been waiting for centuries for others to do what they do not want to do themselves.

In Divjaka, Poliçan, Belsh, Cërrik, Selenica, Përrenjas, Memaliaj and other municipalities that would be merged, citizens had taken their seats in cafes. They had ordered coffee, raki, a single shot of vodka and were waiting. The reform was severe, but not so severe that it left a double half empty.

Everyone had their eyes on Erion.

This historic reception was also attended by the mayors of the municipalities that would disappear from the administrative map. Among them was the mayor of Divjake, who had the idea that 12 million tourists would need 12 million tomatoes, 12 million peppers and 12 million cucumbers. He and the others had carefully studied the situation and had come to the conclusion that the only salvation was Erion Braçe.

Erioni had to oppose his party, clash with the prime minister, risk his political career, lose every opportunity to be re-elected and, if necessary, sacrifice his mandate.

For the Mayors of the merging municipalities, such a sacrifice was worth it. They had families, responsibilities, and a future to think about. Erion could sacrifice his future, because this was a much more appropriate way to protect their future.

One of the mayors proposed organizing a protest in front of Parliament. The idea was seriously discussed, but was rejected. A protest could be interpreted as opposition to the government, which would not be appropriate for a socialist mayor.

"Let Erion do it," said one.

"He started this job," said the other.

"And he's a deputy," added the third.

After that, everyone felt more at ease. They had found a man who could lose his position to keep theirs.

But Erion's most ardent supporters weren't the mayors. They were the opposition leaders.

The Albanian opposition had been fighting the government for many years. It had organized protests, held press conferences, boycotted elections, staged revolutions, and declared the end of the regime dozens of times. Now, after all this experience, it had discovered the easiest way to stop Edi Rama. It needed Erion Braçe.

Kjo ishte një zgjidhje e shkëlqyer. Opozita kishte deputetët e saj, kryetarët e saj, strukturat e saj, militantët e saj dhe një numër të konsiderueshëm njerëzish që shfaqeshin çdo mbrëmje në televizor për të shpjeguar se si duhej luftuar qeveria. Por asnjëri nuk kishte pse të lodhej më. Erioni, një deputet socialist që kandidonte në Tiranë, duhej të merrte përsipër edhe detyrat e opozitës.

Në selinë e saj, situata ndiqej me shqetësim të madh.

Te gjithe po mendonin se kush do fliste  ne conference shtypi dhe kush do ta shante me teper  Erionin se perse nuk ja doli dot qe te pengonte qeverine.

Ky vendim u konsiderua një hap i rëndësishëm në strategjinë e opozitës. Beteja kundër qeverisë mund të fitohej pa qenë nevoja që opozita të merrte përsipër asnjë nga pasojat e saj. Per here te pare e kishin gjetur edhe fajtorin e vertete se perse Reforma do te kalonte ne votim: ai ishte Erioni

Në Divjakë, ndërkohë, katër burra kishin zënë një tavolinë pranë televizorit.

— Te shohim se cfare do beje  Erioni, — tha i pari.

— Dheu ne jam kurioz tha I dyti,

— Po u tërhoq, nuk ka më burra në këtë vend, — tha i treti.

I katërti kërkoi edhe një dopio raki dhe deklaroi se ishte gati të jepte jetën për bashkinë e Divjakës.

— Po të shkojmë nesër në Tiranë të protestojmë? — e pyeti kamarieri.

— Nesër kam një punë, — tha ai. — Por Erioni nuk duhet të lëshojë pe!

Në Poliçan, Belsh, Cërrik e Selenicë zhvilloheshin diskutime të ngjashme. Qytetarët ishin të bindur se Erioni duhej të tregonte guxim, të kundërshtonte partinë dhe, në rast nevoje, të jepte dorëheqjen. Një burrë në Belsh, që prej tridhjetë vjetësh votonte sipas porosisë së partisë, kërkonte që Erioni të mos i nënshtrohej vendimit të partisë.

Në Përrenjas, një pensionist deklaroi se nuk do ta votonte më kurrë Braçen, po qe se Erioni do te votonte pro reformes.. Kamarieri i kujtoi se Erioni kandidonte në Tiranë. Pensionisti u zemërua edhe më shumë, sepse Braçe nuk e kishte idenë sa vota po humbiste në Përrenjas.

Kështu, në të gjithë vendin, qytetarët ishin bashkuar rreth një kërkese të vetme: Erioni duhej të merrte shpatën dhe të dilte në luftë.Per qytetaret e bashkiove qe shkriheshin por sidomos per opozitaret Erioni Duhet ti hipte kalit te Skenderbeut dhe te merrte shpaten e tij.

Në imagjinatën e tyre, Erioni duhej të hynte në Parlament me shpatë në dorë, të përballej me qeverinë, t’I priste Koken Taulant Balles dhe të shpëtonte pesëmbëdhjetë bashki. Kryetarët e bashkive do ta ndiqnin nga televizori, opozita do ta inkurajonte nga studiot, ndërsa qytetarët do të ngrinin dolli për trimërinë e tij.

Mbrëmja e votimit erdhi më në fund. Shumica parlamentare i kishte votat e nevojshme për ta miratuar reformën edhe pa Erionin. Këtë e dinin të gjithë, por nuk ia vlen të prishësh një dramë kombëtare për një hollësi aritmetike.

Erioni votoi pro.

Albania was shocked. The mayors who had expected his sacrifice felt betrayed. The opposition, which had left in the hands of a socialist the entire responsibility to stop the government, discovered that Erion had no character. The citizens of Divjaka, Poliçan, Belshi, Cërrik and Selenica stopped drinking coffee and brandy for a few moments to curse him.

In the television studios, Erion's political trial began. The opposition, who had proclaimed the hope of democracy the day before, now accused him of betraying the people. It was a special betrayal, because Erion had failed to do what the opposition had failed to do with all its deputies, structures, leaders, and revolutions.

In the municipalities that were to be merged, citizens continued to be indignant. No one cared about the deputies who had voted for the reform, nor the government that had proposed it. Erioni alone was responsible. He had made a grave mistake by criticizing the reform and had not done what 83 other deputies did, who were only silent.

The next day, the four men of Divjaka's cafe gathered again. Disappointed by the collapse of their municipality. But one of them, full of hope, said to the waiter: - Bring us a double!


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