nr. 96 / 21 shtator 2006

Is Fatos Nano gone crazy, or the false political stability is threatening?

Fatos Nano is a simple deputy today. Nevertheless, his return in Albania, in the Parliament, has caused strong “waves” in the Albanian politics. If one year ago it was the former opposition, today on power, the one who cried out “Nano go!”, today is the opposition, at that time on power, who is saying “Nano go!” to its political memory.

It is about a “craziness” or the threat of a false stability of the number of cards in Parliament, so that it looks like politics today needs deputies for cards and not lawmakers.

The return of Nano has astonished the Albanians and they are wondering what will be the price to pay. Many of those who had “sacrificed” Nano, are now clapping hands for him. Except some chair-lovers, Nano, as a process, came in a natural way without noise, but even at the bar politic-makers give him importance, authority and lift him up. Nano is gaining points every time that those who fear a normal person, without any function or clear request, get shrink and sad. But if the 140 deputies of the Albanian Parliament had the ability of Nano, how do you think would the Albanian politics be, weaker or stronger?

For the Albanians, but even more for the parliamentary, the Nano process is unreadable, no matter the meetings between the to political camps, who seem to have difficulty on finding out the model of promising progress, even tranquillizing for themselves, first of all.

However, Fatos Nano, with his black and white side, is serving as an important stimulator, so that Albania might be what it should be and not what it is or what it pretends to be, or even what it was.

But, what about Nano, is he what he was or not? Yes, normally he is. But we shouldn’t forget that even politics has changed very little during these 16 years of democracy. And, if the politics pretends changes, even Nano, who is a simple deputy, can have the right to pretend changes, as the political stability cannot be a question of numbers, as it is claimed every day, but the way thing move on and change in a country. Our political class during all pluralism, except some sporadic moments of paralyzing strikes and revolts, has taken care with such Byzantisms, like the necessary constitutional cards, or the bought votes of motions, trying to keep the power to the point of disgust, to the point of revolt. Let’s remember the governing model of 1992-1997. A referendum on Constitution went lost, there was some storm about the parliamentary and local elections, - we have no intention to explain why or how did Albania go to revolts. The socialists took advantage of it, not as socialists, but as specialists, as the late Pjetër Arbnori, one of the most serious politicians of Albania, had declared. They moderated their attitude through the game of cards in the Parliament, and though divided, they made it and kept the power for two mandates, with Fatos Nano as a steersman. They can boast they passed the power without battle, with free elections accepted by the internationals. But they left the precedent of the false political stability. This is what should concern the politics-makers and not the return of the one who conceived the idea of the deputy-card game. When Nano ends a game, he starts another.

The attitude of the socialists on power had the motto “Better us than the return of Berisha”. But it was enough and people rightly removed the left-winged from the power, as they had stolen with the right and the left hand, causing the unbelievable, the recycling of the former President elected twice, having done the second election under revolt.

None of the Albanian voters would have desired to walk on those steps, or declare that there is the right number for the election of the President in 2007. What does it mean, when it’s not the right number of those to whom voters trusted? Diversion to the opposition? Fear of Fatos Nano? Votes purchase?!

Is this democracy?! “There’s no way out”, for as long as this is the spiteful refrain of the two camps, turned out into “family” and not into politics where compromise is supposed to aim the interest of the voters.

The Albanian politicians should be ashamed when they speak in this way, while people has other needs. The Government should speak aloud and clearly about what is going to do during 2006 to improve our life, it shouldn’t tell us what is the goal of Fatos Nano taking care about the chairs that will disappear in 2007.

Those who have the mandate of a deputy would say there’s no crisis. Crisis indeed, are not in the Parliamentary room with air conditioning, but in the sufferings of people, in the delusions for the fulfillment of the duty of politics-makers, who remind to “smile” only when they need votes, who rap their rivals up to the seventh generation, during the campaigns and then govern with them. People doesn’t care about how many cards does the majority have. People needs well-being, security, raise of pensions, below of taxes, compensation for the years of political imprisonment, building of secondary streets and highways. They need rural streets, hospitals, nursery, kindergarten, schools, universities, opening to the west countries, below of at least 25% of customs’ taxes, better conditions for foreign tourists and businessmen.

We don’t see anywhere in the world a government that stands up boasting of some criminals caught by other states, for this is a normal daily job done by Interpol, while accusations of corruption reach as far as the President or the Chief Prosecutor.

We’re living a moment when on one hand, the rumor that Berisha is fighting corruption, has reached Brussels, and on the other hand the Nano storm has embraced all the politics bringing on the surface the anxiety and requests of other things needed.

Does this serve people? Whom do you think this stability serves? The change of governments as soon as possible, as it happened in Italy, until promises are kept and economy raises, would be very normal for a country in crisis, while the deputy goes in the parliament as the image of the party and becomes a card that changes color as the chameleon.

The economic crisis and poverty are still present, aren’t they? Does anybody hope that this will be solved in the future as long as the mandate of a government? Can we keep on opening the door to authoritarian leaders who have no interest on the legal state and independent institutions, but only on personal power? Is it normal that politics-makers get angry because of the return of Fatos Nano, an Albanian deputy who has the votes of his zone and sits on its place in the Parliament, even without saying a word until today?

Nevertheless, even if the politics is wrong, even if Nano is not speaking, the people, feeling tired now, will speak with the vote.

Sokol Pepushaj

Complicated “regulator”

Almost six centuries ago, the feudal lord Lekë Dukagjini, composed a regulator in order to restore the outraged dignity. The Canon of Lekë Dukagjini served during the centuries as a law. But even today, tens of thousands of Albanians suffer every day the fear of revenge and murder, though not guilty. This Canon, a very complicated “regulator” that demands the death not only of the guilty, but also of the family, today is standing more authoritative than the laws of the State.

Because of this ancient canon, this harsh and killing “regulator”, the life of Ndoc Zefi, born on may 10, 1967, is in danger. According to our reliable sources, he is not guilty. The happening was complicated and the canon condemns it. His nephew, Fran Mark Zefi, is accused of attempted murder against Lin Dardha on August 15, 2001. Fran, indeed, didn’t make any attempt to kill, but another person, after a banal quarrel, was the cause of this. Fran Zefi intervened to stop them, but the quarrel ended in wounding. But who could convince the elders or the ancient “regulator”, the Canon, that Fran Zefi not only didn’t shoot, but escaped without any harm. Being a person known by the wounded, he was accused. None cares about swear or logics, but the innocent is counted as guilty, because that is what the elders have decided. The two families are involved in this way in a foully conflict, and according to the Canon, murder is needed. In this revenge is involved even Ndoc Zefi and his family, as his nephew is accused. He lives hidden, because of fear of blood-feud, until the day when conditions become as hard as to force him to chose escape from Albania as the only way safe. The entire family Zefi from the village of Palaj, in the municipality of Shllak, is in danger, even though they have no guilt, either legal, or human.

Jetmir Delaj