Sali Berisha and Edi Rama — perhaps the time has come for you to retire with dignity.
After so many years in politics, perhaps it is time to make room for a new generation of Democrats and Socialists—people who do not need to explain to us every day how democratic or socialist they are.
Leave behind the old political games, temporary alliances, loyal party militants, and the theory that Albanian democracy cannot move forward without you.
It can, Sali and Edi. In fact, perhaps it is time to see whether Albania can move forward without you.
You have had more than enough time to leave your mark on Albania’s history. Unfortunately, along with that mark, you have also left behind many unanswered questions.
What happened to the property inherited from the former communist regime?
Who benefited from the privatization of state-owned and public property?
What role did your governments play in Albania’s relations with the Milošević regime during the war in Kosovo and in the period that followed?
And how were former communist-era industrial assets—such as the Ballsh oil refinery and the Azotiku plant in Fier—allowed to deteriorate or disappear, contributing to the economic catastrophe that affected thousands upon thousands of Albanian families?
And perhaps one of the most important questions:
How has Albania managed to build thousands of millions of euros worth of buildings, hotels, towers, and other major developments without the public being given clear and verifiable information about the legitimate sources of the capital behind these investments?
Where did this enormous amount of money come from?
Who owns these investments?
Who financed them?
And, most importantly, have the sources of these funds been properly verified and made transparent to the Albanian public?
Perhaps, before you retire, you could give Albanians some answers as well.
Not for a campaign.
Not for power.
Simply for the historical record.
Because if you truly are the honest, patriotic, and “man of your word” that you have always claimed to be, there is another possibility: you could acknowledge your mistakes and responsibilities and apologize to the Albanian people.
Don’t worry, Sali and Edi. No one is asking you to surrender your place in history.
Just the chair.Edi Rama has his own account to settle.
After so many years in politics, perhaps it is time to make room for a new generation of Democrats and Socialists—people who do not need to explain to us every day how democratic or socialist they are.
Leave behind the old political games, temporary alliances, loyal party militants, and the theory that Albanian democracy cannot move forward without you.
It can, Sali and Edi. In fact, perhaps it is time to see whether Albania can move forward without you.
You have had more than enough time to leave your mark on Albania’s history. Unfortunately, along with that mark, you have also left behind many unanswered questions.
What happened to the property inherited from the former communist regime?
Who benefited from the privatization of state-owned and public property?
What role did your governments play in Albania’s relations with the Milošević regime during the war in Kosovo and in the period that followed?
And how were former communist-era industrial assets—such as the Ballsh oil refinery and the Azotiku plant in Fier—allowed to deteriorate or disappear, contributing to the economic catastrophe that affected thousands upon thousands of Albanian families?
And perhaps one of the most important questions:
How has Albania managed to build thousands of millions of euros worth of buildings, hotels, towers, and other major developments without the public being given clear and verifiable information about the legitimate sources of the capital behind these investments?
Where did this enormous amount of money come from?
Who owns these investments?
Who financed them?
And, most importantly, have the sources of these funds been properly verified and made transparent to the Albanian public?
Perhaps, before you retire, you could give Albanians some answers as well.
Not for a campaign.
Not for power.
Simply for the historical record.
Because if you truly are the honest, patriotic, and “man of your word” that you have always claimed to be, there is another possibility: you could acknowledge your mistakes and responsibilities and apologize to the Albanian people.
Don’t worry, Sali and Edi. No one is asking you to surrender your place in history.
Just the chair.Edi Rama has his own account to settle.
Sali Berisha has his.
And perhaps Albanian democracy will breathe a little more freely when the old political generation finally understands that knowing when to leave is not defeat.
Sometimes, it is one of the few ways to leave politics with dignity.
Go, Sali. Go, Edi Rama.
Your time is over.
Let Albania try a different generation.
And perhaps Albanian democracy will breathe a little more freely when the old political generation finally understands that knowing when to leave is not defeat.
Sometimes, it is one of the few ways to leave politics with dignity.
Go, Sali. Go, Edi Rama.
Your time is over.
Let Albania try a different generation.
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