Socialists reject Democratic Party’s demand for technical government
Commenting on the Democratic Party’s (DP) threats of protests and social unrest, Blendi Klosi, Secretary-General of the Socialist Party, flatly rejected any demands for a technical government and warned of a firm response.
Why is this important: The Democratic Party has repeatedly called for a technical government before every major election in Albania since 2017. In 2017, Prime Minister Edi Rama reached an agreement for a technical government with then-DP leader Lulzim Basha. The deal allowed the opposition to nominate its representatives for key ministries and institutions – ministries of Interior, Finance, Health, Education, State Police, etc., – that they claimed could be used by the majority to influence the election outcome in its favor. Despite this concession, the Socialists won the 2017 elections in an unprecedented victory, running alone without a coalition. The Socialist Party’s current firm stance indicates they are unwilling to repeat that compromise and are focusing on their electoral strategy for 2025.
The rest: Blendi Klosi dismissed the opposition’s actions as a recycling of old tactics. He criticized recent protests in Parliament, where opposition members burned chairs, describing the behavior as “vandalism” and cautioning that such actions would meet with a strong response. Klosi emphasized that the Socialist Party has no interest in revisiting the technical government arrangement reached in 2017.
Klosi also addressed the opposition’s call for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, arguing that it stems from their inability to compete against him in elections, rather than legitimate concerns about governance. “Their issue isn’t about fair elections; it’s about not being able to win with Edi Rama in charge,” Klosi stated during a meeting in Shkodër.
Instead of entertaining negotiations for another technical government, the Socialist Party is focusing on strengthening its organizational structures in preparation for the 2025 elections. Klosi stressed that the Socialists are working towards a decisive victory, similar to their success in 2017. He also reiterated the party’s long-term goal through the “PS 2030” initiative, which aims to advance Albania’s European integration by 2030.
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