The new era of political forces

2023-09-30 09:39:00, Opinione Ardi Stefa

Ardi Stefa

Historical political parties have a heavy shadow. The Shadow of History.

They carry it from one event to another over the years, from one era to another, from one election to another, from one leader to another.

Within the history of political forces, leaders, figures, votes, manipulations, defeats or victories, matches and clashes, the homeland itself, the personalities of this era, as well as the politicians of the moment, precede. Their wins and losses.

In other words, a historical political party is a kind of time travel. A kind of journey that reflects not only the steps that Albania has taken, but also the steps that the political force has taken, which followed or led the steps of Albania.

It's just that the hardest journey is always the one that comes next.

For whoever attempts it, must sail into the unexplored oceans of three great changes:

- In changing society.

- In changing the policy and its conception.

- In changing the party and political forces in order to respond to the needs of society and the political demands of the new era.

The new era of political forces

And precisely because the oceans are unexplored, precisely because changes do not wait for us and do not warn us, rowing needs not only plan and programming, but also instinct and luck.

First of all a political force needs something essential. To be near and at the service of the people (the electorate), as he addresses them, represents them, lives with the people, is voted for and trusted by him, is overthrown by him and thrown into the dustbin of history.

Often times simple is deceiving. And simple is a lie. And both are temptations which responsible political parties must avoid if they wish to assert its inestimable value.

The history of modern democracies and political parties is almost identical.

The era of the Albanian transition was the era of the expansion of the electorate, the emergence of mass parties and parliamentary institutions.

Mass media, television and electronic portals seem to move faster than political transition and evolution.

In any case, the media did what was obvious: it created access for everyone. The press, like democracy, became a benefit for every citizen, in order to understand the path of politics.

The new era of political forces

The level of information among average Albanians today has nothing to compare with the information of 30 or even 25 years ago, despite the fact that information is also abused.

Not only because the general level of education has increased, but also because access to information has become simple and easy, an almost self-evident process.

Great gift, no doubt. But also a big risk.

Because simple is often deceptive. And the lie takes place easily.

It is the latter that the political force and its leaders exploit, claiming that everyone is on the right side.

Especially this phrase, therefore, that are on the right side of history, the political parties say and repeat before and after the elections.

So far there is nothing unusual. Elections are an integral part of democracy. A lot has been developed, more will be developed.

What is unusual is the toxic atmosphere and fanaticism with which a part of politics approaches the electoral process and the way they poison the people after the electoral process.

Unusual, because fanaticism is not a manifestation of democratic culture. On the contrary, bigotry and a toxic climate undermine the post-election functioning of democracy.

But no one ever won an election simply because he was more bigoted than his opponent.

The Democratic Party in these 33 years of its existence did a lot, but it should do even more. He had to avoid mistakes, correct himself and correct himself, in order to help the Albanian society to emancipate itself and avoid the toxic climate that was being cultivated. The Democratic Party should serve democracy and politics with the ethics, decency and culture that it deserves and that I believe characterizes it.

The new era of political forces

With many mistakes and faults, perhaps inevitable, but always on the right side of History.

Since the decade of the 90's PD has been the political force of Western consciousness, of European orientation, of fair speech, of open intellectual horizons.

It opposed extreme left dictatorships, communist schemes, all forms of anti-democratic practices and anti-social methods.

It played a leading role in democratic stability after 1991. It was one of the pillars of our modern politics.

But PD also made many mistakes. Speaking against the authoritarianism of others, he forgot the authoritarianism within himself and forgot how quickly a democratic political force can turn into a populist force, which is quickly abandoned by the electorate.

But for the PD to be in the front line of the real democratic stability of Albania, it needs deep reflection, even for really painful operations, to remove the excesses or the weights that hold it down and do not allow it to breathe or become a real force competitive.

And this should be done, not only for historical reasons. Not even for the fact that it is her political identity.

But because democratic political stability is a condition of social normality, institutional functioning, economic development, individual well-being and justice.

All those things for which the Democratic Party deserves to exist: Different, modern, fair and open.

And not only the Democratic Party!