January 8, 2022: A genuine break the DP couldn’t sustain

January 2022 marked a pivotal moment in the history of the Democratic Party (DP). On that day, a majority of the party’s leadership and parliamentary group openly resisted Sali Berisha’s attempts to regain control. Frustrated with his influence, they stood against his violent efforts to take over the party.

This resistance wasn’t rooted in strong support for the other party leader, Lulzim Basha, nor driven by personal interests. Instead, it was a rare, honest moment when they believed they could physically fend off Berisha if necessary. We all saw how events unfolded: the armored doors of the party’s headquarters blocked Berisha’s attack, and the MPs hiding inside managed to escape unscathed.

Three years later, much has changed. On January 8, 2022, Berisha’s image—exhausted and supported only by a handful of loyalists like his son-in-law and Flamur Noka—painted a picture of a leader at his lowest point. Today, however, the situation looks different.

Most of those who resisted Berisha back then eventually gave in, choosing political survival over principle. They realized that aligning with Berisha gave them better chances of reelection than staying with Basha. For many Albanians, though, this story is irrelevant. Citizens don’t care about the MPs’ political calculations; they care about whether the opposition can muster the strength to break free from Berisha’s grip.

Back in January 2022, Democratic MPs found the courage to resist Berisha’s violence. Three years later, most have surrendered, creating an uneasy alliance. Berisha knows their loyalty is insincere, and they know he can’t stand them.

No matter how polished the DP’s current image may seem, it doesn’t feel as genuine as the events of January 8, 2022. That day revealed the threat Berisha poses to the DP when he loses control—and also showed his vulnerability. Politically, Berisha was reduced to a paper tiger.

After the May 11th elections, when the DP likely finds itself in opposition again and it becomes clear to everyone that winning with Berisha is impossible, the ones remembered from January 8, 2022, won’t be those who rushed to apologize to him. Instead, it will be those who continue to see that day as the party’s true moment of separation from Berisha. That day marked the genuine divide. What followed was nothing more than a series of negotiations and political deals—events that will soon be forgotten.

The article initially appeared in Albanian titled: "8 janari i 2022 është më i sinqertë se ai i 2025"