The lie about DP boycotting Parliament

Sali Berisha's Democratic Party has boycotted the last two parliamentary sessions. This has created false fears of a new, long-term boycott.

But this has nothing to do with a real boycott.

The real reason is the aggressive protesters still on the streets and online. They are a small group of extremists from the "Lëvizja Bashkë" movement, and they are the only ones who constantly chant: "Rama in prison, Berisha in prison."

Berisha is avoiding Parliament because he does not want to walk past this crowd. He is staying away from the five or six angry protesters waiting outside with eggs and megaphones, shouting that same slogan at him.

Berisha claims that he supports the protest and stands with it to the end, pretending to ignore the people attacking him. This is a desperate attempt to hide a painful truth: a new opposition group is trying to replace his own party.

However, the scene outside Parliament creates a big problem for him. When lawmakers walk in, the angry crowd attacks Berisha's party exactly the same way they attack the ruling Socialist Party. In the eyes of the public, both parties are treated exactly the same.

Politically, the Socialist Party does not worry about this protest at all. In fact, facing these attacks only makes the ruling party stronger. Their voters see them as victims of verbal and physical aggression, which brings their supporters closer together.

On the other hand, Berisha's party is losing its credibility. If the ultimate goal of the protest is to bring down the government, it seems they have already brought down Berisha’s opposition in the eyes of his own voters.

This creates tension and deep frustration within his party.

When you look at it this way, Berisha actually has a good reason to stay away from Parliament. Naturally, he calls it a "boycott" because he cannot admit the truth: he is hiding from Arlind Qorri’s aggressive protesters. But that does not mean his decision to stay away is wrong.

All the talk about a new parliamentary boycott is completely fake. This is just a political survival tactic. It is the last parliamentary session before the summer, and Berisha simply does not want to go into the holidays looking like a victim of public attacks.

He is already facing enough criticism for getting Flamur Noka back re-elected. He does not have the energy to explain why the street protesters hate Flamur, too.

Originally published in Albanian as: Gënjeshtra se PD po bojkoton Kuvendin