The politics of health or vice versa

The politics of health or vice versa 

Tirana Times - http://tiranatimes.com/

By Alba Çela 

It took a very bumpy road to be traveled but finally the local elections of 2007 were more or less successfully completed. What follows is a confusing and somewhat comic contestation of the results with each part claiming a different kind of victory. The majority says it has the plebiscitary vote while the opposition rightfully boasts of grasping the main urban centers including the most important one, Tirana. Important figures of the opposition accept that the experienced defeat calls for some reflection. The charismatic Bamir Topi, slated recently as a presidential candidate, pointed at the necessity to refresh the party structures and get rid of irresponsible people who became determinant factors for the defeat. 

All the eyes are upon the Prime Minister who, except being actively involved in the campaign, is also one of the figures from whom a deep reaction was expected to address the obvious popular discontent that was translated into a lost vote for the DP. 

How does the leader of the DP answer? With a arithmetic game of politics. 

The tender for acquiring the right number to overcome a new parliamentary crisis is open, ladies and gentleman place your bets! 

At the beginning of the week, Demo-Christian Party’s leader Nard Ndoka was named Health Minister. His game has been a long and tricky one but the final result is quite satisfactory. An entirely political name substitutes an entirely specialist figure such as the popular Maksim Cikuli. His fault? He does not have a parliamentary seat to fit Berisha’s calculations. Minor voices from the right-wing collation rose in protest, but nothing can stop the avalanche of the prime Minister who anticipating another challenge to his increasing power is doing all he can to shield his back. No less than 8 votes is the dowry of the most recent member of the government. 

We are back at the arrogant times of ex Prime Minister Nano who would trade in and out politicians to fit Manichean schemes of power, wound his opponents and then lick them in return for some votes. The small allies of Berisha seem to share his big political appetite. What better timing than an upcoming political turmoil to get a lion’s share? 

One is left wondering why ministers, who failed spectacularly not only in their electoral districts but more importantly in their expertise sectors such as Genc Ruli regarding energy, stay back and wait for a potential second wave of shuffle. 

Thus to the dilemma upon how the opposition is going to administer its victory a freshly baked one is added. Why is the Prime Minister not reflecting upon his loss? Is it really that he does not see it as he claims? Or is it that we are past beyond ambitions to good governance and well into the pure Machiavellian logic of just holding on to power? 

Albanians remain to grasp a second chance then to respond to this senseless political bazaar if until June, when the presidential games are due, Berisha does not display at least some reason.