A day after clashes at the protest, where opposition MPs were met with rejection from students, Sali Berisha came forward with a political reading that shifts the incidents onto what he called “the government’s paid people.” The head of the Democratic Party, instead of dwelling on the reasons for the students’ distancing, chose to defend the role of his party and at the same time repeat the call for opposition unity ahead of the local elections.
Berisha denies that the clashes came from students
According to Berisha’s version, the incidents during the protest were not linked to students, but to people who, he said, act as the government’s “paid people.” He described them as elements that damage every protest movement and sought to separate them from the other participants in the rally.
Along the same lines, Berisha insisted that the protest had the support of what he called the “democratic people,” presenting the Democratic Party’s presence as support for the students. This approach comes after the students’ reservations toward the involvement of the political opposition were clearly seen on the ground.
The DP seeks an understanding with other parties for the local elections
In his weekly conversation, Berisha was also asked about the possibility of cooperation with other opposition forces such as Levizja Bashke, Mundesia and Shqiperia Behet. He declared that the Democratic Party is ready for compromises and joint candidates across the country.
His message was clear: the less division within the opposition, the greater the possibility of confronting the majority in the local elections. Berisha called on the leaders of these parties to set aside their disagreements, arguing that any hesitation, according to him, works in Edi Rama’s favor.
The comparison with Serbia and the role Berisha reserves for the DP
Berisha also commented on comparisons with developments in Serbia, where student movements have been seen as a political factor in their own right. He said he does not see similarities between that reality and the Albanian scene.
According to him, in Serbia there has not been an opposition party with the weight that he claims the Democratic Party has in Albania. With this argument, Berisha implied that any new movement must take into account the presence and dominant role that he attributes to his party in the opposition camp.
Message to students: act, but do not start from illusions
In the end, Berisha said that students have the right to undertake any political or civic step they see as reasonable. However, he also offered them “friendly advice,” warning them not to rely on things that, according to him, “are not real.”
The statement appears to strike a difficult balance: on the one hand it recognizes the students’ right to organize, while on the other it sets the boundaries of political interpretation within the framework that suits the old opposition.
The clashes at the protest brought to the surface a tension that goes beyond the episode of the day: the unclear relationship between student movements and opposition parties seeking to approach them or represent them.
While Berisha speaks of opposition unity and downplays the rejection seen on the ground, it remains to be seen whether students will keep their distance from the parties or choose other forms of political organization.