Berisha announces coalition plans ahead of elections
Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has confirmed plans to form a coalition with the Freedom Party and other political groups for the upcoming elections. Berisha made the announcement during a visit to Pogradec, where he expressed confidence in the coalition’s potential to secure victory.
Why is this important: The announcement constitutes the strongest indication yet of the opposition’s strategy to unite forces against the ruling Socialist Party, in order to bolster its electoral chances. However, Berisha gave no indications of his position vis-à-vis the newly established parties that according to opinion polls appear to be attracting a significant chunk of DP’s former electorate.
Context: Berisha’s spoke during the 34th-anniversary celebration of the Democratic Party in Pogradec. In his remarks, he reflected on DP’s legacy as a champion of Albania’s development and national interest. “In coalition with the Freedom Party and other parties, we are heading confidently toward victory. Negotiations will determine the structure, but it’s our turn,” Berisha stated.
The Democratic Party leader also addressed local concerns in Pogradec, criticizing government-backed development projects. He claimed they risk destroying the city’s identity and alleged ties to criminal organizations. Berisha reiterated his commitment to defending the country’s heritage and standing firm against projects he described as harmful to national and cultural interests.
Next steps: Negotiations between the Democratic Party and its allies are expected to finalize the coalition’s structure and electoral platform. However, with Freedom Party leader Ilir Meta currently under arrest awaiting trial and his party in total disarray, and most of DP’s traditional smaller allies existing primarily on paper, there are questions about how Berisha intends to overcome the double digit deficit in the polls against the SP. He has shown absolutely no openness toward collaborating with other small parties or even with the factions that recently split from the DP—steps that would be essential to creating the broad coalition DP needs to effectively challenge the ruling party.
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