Democratic Party promise to pay restitution to former political prisoners and property owners
The Democratic Party (DP) has pledged to address long-standing debts owed by the Albanian state to former political prisoners and confiscated property owners. During a meeting with representatives of associations of former political prisoners, party leader Sali Berisha announced that in the first term of his government after May 11, every outstanding obligation to these groups will be settled.
Why is this important: The Democratic Party has twice come to power, in 1992 and 2005, with similar promises to compensate these two groups, which have historically been among its most loyal supporters. However, disappointment has run deep among these communities over unfulfilled pledges. Although they have been in power for a total of 13 years since 1992 Democrats never kept their promise to these social categories. Former political prisoners who were still alive after 2013 saw 100% of their compensation granted only after the Socialists came to power. The same is trye for the heirs of those no longer living have received most of their dues and continue to be compensated for forced labor during the communist regime. Coming up with the same pledge again, 33 years after the fall of communism when the Democrats led by Berisha assumed power for the first time, risks serving more as the reminder of an unkept promise than an argument for support.
Context: Berisha argued that there can be no social peace unless former political prisoners and property owners receive what they are owed. However, he has held power for more than 12 of the past 30 years and has done little or nothing to resolve these issues.
In today’s meeting, Berisha called on the Democratic Party to draft a new program to address the rights and compensation owed to these groups. He emphasized that addressing property issues and giving former political prisoners the justice they deserve must be central to this program. Berisha also harshly criticized Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government, accusing it of implementing laws reminiscent of 1946 to justify property seizures. He pledged that a future DP-led government would fight to end what he called the current regime’s abuses and protect citizens’ properties and Albania’s national assets.
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