Albanian society is looking for opposition

2024-12-24 09:03:00, Opinione Ardi Stefa

Albanian society is looking for opposition

Ardi Stefa

A few months ago I wrote an analysis entitled: "Stability before democracy or democracy that creates stability?"

No comma takes away from that article, even many of the theses raised then time proved to be true.

According to a rhetoric, which originates mainly from the side of the majority, if today we have a problematic situation in the opposition, it happens because today's society is not looking for an opposition but "stability" and in this regard the opposition has nothing to offer and does not have a compelling alternative governance proposal to secure it.

This attitude basically has the assessment that what is currently being implemented as government policy is not only successful, but also the only one that can exist. While, according to this rhetoric, even if someone were to look for an alternative policy, they would not be able to find it.

Of course, this is a variant of the "us or chaos" theory, which has been formulated often and which in its most common formulation has the form, "if what the government proposes is not implemented, Albania will return to Berisha and the policies of its destabilizing!" or said with the slogan "Only forward, never back!".

An argument that was effectively used in the local elections of May 14, 2023.

Without wanting, of course, to give any explanation as to why the majority insists on the same tactic, it is strange why the opposition of Berisha's party insists on proving the argument of the majority.

But the story is not the point. The point is the present. And in this present there are two factors, which are artificially overlooked in this whole debate.

One is that a very large part of society is dissatisfied with the government's policy, successive scandals, corruption, lack of perspective, etc., etc. - the most common criticisms that any government faces. The majority of people asked in the surveys conducted believe that things are not going in the right direction; that they do not see their personal position improving; that they do not have much optimism for the future, with the high cost of living, depopulation and education and health on the ground.

Another reality that the polls show is that citizens do not trust parties, but have a very high degree of trust in the New Justice and SPAK.

This means that a very large part of society does not share the government's narrative that the policy being implemented is the best possible.

Second, we need to look more closely at the notion that the policy being implemented is the only feasible one. There is a reason that our country has very high taxes, tax evasion, is very low in ranking in real purchasing power of wages, pensions are poor, or that we have a high percentage of youth emigration; health and education are not where they should be, we are behind in investments and productivity decline.

Thirdly, the "aggressive opposition" we currently see, just like a "consensual opposition", which for the sake of politics could make an agreement with the majority, simply keeps the government in power, because it becomes part of the problem.

And that's exactly the problem with the constant call for aggressiveness: it's usually made by those who believe that we don't have a choice in politics today. That there is no alternative and other way. That all other propositions are unattainable.

But they know that they will not build the electoral momentum that will bring them to power. In the best case, they will simply "co-govern", as they are persistently seeking and have the only real cause - to factor in as the official opposition.

It is therefore clear that the majority of society would like a different policy, which can actually exist.

Meanwhile, the opposition has so far failed to convince that it can not only propose such a policy, but also implement it effectively.

However, distrust of the opposition does not mean "unconditional confidence" in the government.

What I am saying is actually the main symptom of the political crisis in Albania. Because the lack of a convincing opposition only makes the government even more arrogant, but on the other hand it is also a great chance for that non-populist opposition, which becomes an interpreter of society's demands.

I am convinced that today the Albanian society is looking for a political opposition. A new opposition. Not obsolete in people, ideas, thoughts, articulations and actions.

Anyone who declares themselves as such is not an opposition, even an official one. The concepts of politics, the way of protesting, reacting, acting, asking for obedience have changed. They are no longer what they were before 20 or 30 years ago.

Because today society would go after a policy with more justice. With the true sense of security that generates strength and confidence in the system of public health, education, economy, finance and security.

Society would support ideas that would enhance and not undermine society's regulatory and interventionist role. She would like to see real investment and not just hostile rhetoric towards a political opponent.

And all this would gain her confidence if she did not see them as accusations and threats, but as a tangible government proposal ready to be implemented by the opposition.

This certainly requires a different sense of responsibility from those who refer, at least declaratively, to the possibility of an alternative government policy.

Because obviously, with the exception of a handful of military men who blindly go after the leader or even some dummy figures, disgusted by society and who are only looking for the seat of the deputy today, and tomorrow of some ministry, the opposition is a black face, for not to say that it does not exist.

Society rejects the model of an opposition as the business logic that brought us to the current situation.

It is evident in his rejection of calls for civil disobedience by billionaire politicians without a day's work in their lives.

Today's society demands that the opposition has a new policy, new people, ideas, clear programs, be dynamic in action and tolerant in listening to the pulse of society's demands. To avoid calls for violence and threats. To get away from personal ego, family parties, "property logics" and delusions of "recreation" (parties are not reborn from their ashes...).

Albanian society today needs an opposition. It won't be easy, but after all, no real change comes without effort and thought.