A few potentially positive outcomes from Saturday's protest

11 Nëntor 2022, 23:43Op-Ed TEMA
A few potentially positive outcomes from Saturday's protest

All those who have their own reserves regarding Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta and are worried of potential violence during Saturday’s protest, should try and see its positive aspects. Unlike every other protest that aims to raise awareness and pressure the government, this one does not seem to have the share this goal. The reason is because Berisha has misused such occasions hundreds of times and the same goes for Meta who, even though he warned a massive protest against Edi Rama a few weeks prior, it ended up being a small gathering against Berisha instead.

Now what are the positive outcomes of the potential insanity that shall unfold on Saturday? Firstly there is its financial aspect. Since this protest does not come from a broad revolt of Albanian citizens, but rather from the opposition’s four months long struggle to hold another massive protest, it means that it will also be sponsored by the opposition. At this point, I disagree with the Prime Minister’s claim that the protest will be financed with Russian money, since the Russians have their own issues at the moment. It could be even worse. The protest will be financed with the money that Berisha and Meta have stolen from Albanian citizens through their endless corruption scandals when they were in power. While Meta might have spent some of that money in the past, Berisha on the other hand has always preferred to have others finance his protests.

Personally, I do not exclude the fact that Berisha could have used certain businessmen to sponsor his upcoming protest. It is the same group of businessmen who receive funds from the government and then pay their percentage to Berisha, in order for the latter not to mention their names. However, it is clear that his son is going to pay for Saturday’s protest. Together with his business partners that hide behind every new construction project or unfinished concessions across the country, Shkelzen Berisha for the first time will be spending family money to sponsor a protest.

This could be a good thing. Considering the lack of justice and legal mechanisms that would otherwise confiscate the money that they have stolen from Albanians, the fact that they have to spend on protests is a kind of punishment. Realizing that they are now abandoned by everyone, Berisha and Meta will be forced even more to spend their stolen money with the hope of saving themselves. During Saturday’s protest, they will painfully have to spend at least 1 Million Euros.

Secondly, there is a positive political outcome. Albania needs to distance itself once and for all from this anti-West fraction that continues to blow the fire of destabilization, hoping that they will make some new allies. The warnings of violence and usurping the Prime Minister’s office are necessary for Albanians to have a clear image of what this fraction really represents. Sali Berisha and Ilir Meta have helped in this direction and this is a positive outcome. To put it in Berisha’s own words, if one feels lost and hopeless, then one must “scare whomever one can.” At the moment, he is scaring his own people more than the government or Albanian citizens.

Thirdly, there is a positive outcome for the Socialist Party here as well. Lethargic from a long time in power and tired of small inner battles for power, the Socialists now have the opportunity to wake up and take a clear positioning. Perhaps, what Edi Rama has failed to inspire in them with his constant meetings and calls for attention, could be achieved by the insanity of Berisha’s and Meta’s Saturday protest.

These are three positive outcomes that could result from Saturday’s chaos. Berisha and Meta will have to spend some of their stolen money, while also painting themselves clearly as an anti-West fraction. On the other hand, it could reawaken a political awareness among Socialists in power. The rest of it is already clear to everyone: Shattered glass, broken stones in the boulevard, a few people holding flags and signs, only for them to take the bus home again at the end of the protest, without forgetting a visit to Shkelzen Berisha to get paid before they leave the capital. Then, farewell until the next protest.

 

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