Amid Gazment Bardhi’s accusations against SP, past claims of Berisha’s ties to Elbasan gang resurface

After the arrests of the Elbasan criminal organization led by Suel Çela by SPAK, Gazment Bardhi, head of the Democratic Party (DP) parliamentary group, launched a scathing attack on the Socialist Party (SP). Bardhi accused the SP of enabling criminal networks like Çela’s to operate unchecked, claiming they were instrumental in the party’s electoral machinery. However, as Shqiptarja.com highlights, Bardhi previously accused his own party’s leadership, including Sali Berisha and Secretary General Flamur Noka, of leveraging the same gang for political purposes during a period of heated internal infighting.

Why is this important: Bardhi’s accusations against the Socialist Party (SP) raise questions about the consistency of his stance on organized crime’s ties to politics. Besides previously implicating his then rivals, Berisha and Noka in similar activities, Bardhi himself also has a problematic history in Elbasan. During the 2021 elections, he was responsible for organizing the Democratic Party’s campaign in the city and led a quasi-paramilitary group, mde up of former police and military, tasked with “defending the vote.” This effort turned deadly when one of Bardhi’s armed escorts killed a Socialist activist during an altercation sparked by Bardhi’s team forcefully stopping the car of a Socialist electoral worker.

Context: In the wake of SPAK’s operation against Çela’s network, Bardhi commended the prosecution’s actions while emphasizing the need for further investigation into the gang’s political connections. Bardhi alleged that Çela’s gang acted as an “electoral headquarters” for the SP during the 2021 elections, intimidating voters and facilitating vote-buying.

He also demanded explanations for the high-level appointment of the sister of two gang members, to a senior government role. Bardhi insisted that SPAK’s credibility depends on swift and thorough answers to these questions, which he argued would expose the full extent of the SP’s ties to organized crime.

Past accusations: While Bardhi now points the finger at SP, not so long ago he accused DP leader Sali Berisha and DP secretary general Flamur Noka of collaborating with Suel Çela to consolidate Berisha’s control over the DP. In November 2021, Bardhi, then a close ally of then DP leader Lulzim Basha, claimed that Çela pressured local party leaders in Elbasan to support Berisha’s National Assembly initiative against Basha.

“Suel Çela works for Berisha,” Bardhi said at the time, alleging that the gang leader coerced local DP members into signing forms to support Berisha’s efforts. He asserted that Noka was fully aware of these actions and actively involved.

Shifting allegiances: Once a vocal critic of Berisha, Bardhi famously stated that he would leave the DP if Berisha returned to its leadership. Today, he stands firmly by Berisha’s side, having abandoned his previous ally, Lulzim Basha. This reversal highlights the fluidity of political alliances in the Democratic Party nowadays, where expediency often trumps principle. Bardhi’s earlier warnings about Berisha’s motivations—suggesting that they were rooted in personal concerns about his legal problems rather than party interests—stand in stark contrast to his current unwavering support.

His shifting stance also underscores the challenges facing Albania’s opposition. To present a credible alternative, the DP must address its own internal contradictions and demonstrate a consistent commitment to transparency and accountability.