When political hatred hits children, we lose as a society

2026-06-29 08:53:00, Opinione Ardi Stefa

When political hatred hits children, we lose as a society
Politics is a ruthless arena. Whoever chooses to enter it must be prepared to face criticism, satire, irony, and even unfair attacks. This applies to every politician, without exception.

Yesterday I saw a meme on the internet from a satirical website. It featured a photo of the prime minister's underage son, holding a banner that read: "Dad in prison, Berisha in prison." Below it, a commenter went even further, mentioning the prime minister's wife, who, according to him, should also come out with a banner: "Husband in prison, Berisha in prison!"

I won't deny that, at first, I gasped. Slogans and memes often have an admirable wit, a dose of irony and sarcasm that hits you right away.

But the smile lasted only a short time. Then all that remained was a feeling of annoyance and sadness.

Because at that moment, a prime minister was no longer being mocked. At the center was a child. A minor who did not choose politics, is not responsible for her father's decisions, and should not become the object of collective hatred.

You can criticize Edi Rama as much as you want for his governance, his arrogance, his verbal bullying, or any decision you consider wrong. You can even insult him. I agree with you that you should also demand his removal from power. Democracy lives precisely from this.

But I cannot accept that minor children are turned into ammunition for political warfare. It is not courage. It is not satire. It is crossing a line that a civilized society should not cross. It is not only a matter of ethics, but also of law.

Children enjoy special protection of privacy and dignity, precisely because they are minors and cannot be considered public figures solely because of their parents. The principle of the best interests of the child, sanctioned in international law and in Albanian legislation, requires that they be kept out of political clashes and public exposure that could cause them psychological harm or stigmatization. Using their photograph to transform it into a symbol of a political battle is not an expression of freedom of speech. Democracy protects the right to attack power, not the right to attack the children of those in power.
No one should pay for the name and surname they bear.

And, to get ahead of those who see everything being bought and sold everywhere, I'm saying it clearly: I would hold the same position even if that banner had a photo of Sali Berisha's nephew or niece, or the child of any other politician.

And try to understand that the writing is morally clear and shifts the debate from politics to civic responsibility, without defending any politician, but a principle.

Politics should remain between politicians. Children should not have to pay the price of adult hatred. If we lose even this boundary, then we no longer have a political debate; we have begun to lose citizenship.