Democratic Party chairman Sali Berisha held a meeting at the party’s headquarters with representatives of the Heritage Foundation, where the focus was placed on student protests, political accusations against the government and the opposition’s demand for a technical government before the elections. According to the version made public by the Democratic Party, the meeting was also used as a platform to reiterate the opposition’s strongest accusations against the ruling majority.
The meeting at the Democratic Party headquarters with the American representatives
Those attending the meeting included James Carafano, introduced as the President’s Senior Adviser for International Engagement, E.W. Richardson, Mario Enzler, Grace Melton, and Richard and Helen DeVos from the Center for Human Flourishing.
They were accompanied by Pastor Akil Pano and representatives of the Foundation for the Family. The Heritage Foundation is described as one of the most influential organizations in Washington, with a role in drafting governing programs for Republican administrations over the years.
Berisha seeks support for the opposition’s narrative
According to the Democratic Party’s statement, Berisha thanked the foundation’s representatives for the support that, according to him, they have given the Democratic Party since the 1990s, as well as for their contribution to shaping the opposition force’s policies and program.
In the discussion, the Democratic Party leader raised the issue of the student protests, which he presented as a revolt against corruption, election theft and what he described as a “narco-state.” He said the opposition is committed to supporting this movement.
Strong accusations against the government, presented as the Democratic Party’s political position
Berisha told those present that the country’s biggest problem, in his view, is a model of governance that damages democracy, the rule of law, society and the economy. In the same vein, he repeated his familiar political accusations against Prime Minister Edi Rama and the alleged links between organized crime and state institutions.
In his remarks, Berisha also spoke about drug trafficking, ports, the economy, the devaluation of the euro and the dollar, the decline in exports and industrial production, and the phenomenon of emigration. These positions were presented by the opposition leader as evidence of the degradation of the state and the economy, but they remain part of the Democratic Party’s political narrative at this stage of its clash with the government.
Technical government, a condition set by the opposition
At the end of the meeting, Berisha stressed the need to create a technical government, presenting it as a necessary condition for free and fair elections.
He linked this demand to the way in which, according to the opposition, the most recent parliamentary elections were conducted and to the findings of international reports, which the Democratic Party uses as a basis for questioning the country’s electoral standards.
The meeting with the Heritage Foundation comes at a time when the opposition is trying to further internationalize its accusations against the government and secure political support for the idea of a technical government.
Beyond the harsh rhetoric of the sides, it remains to be seen whether these moves will produce a real effect on the opposition’s international relations or will remain part of the usual political battle in Tirana.