24.05.2021 – 15:56
The presidency of the Democratic Party approved yesterday the final list of candidates for chairman of the Democratic Party. The leader of the Democrats, Basha, was absent from the meeting of the Presidency yesterday, who left the headquarters as soon as the members of the Presidency arrived at the headquarters, considering it a conflict of interest. Nine candidacies had arrived in the secretariat of the Electoral Commission, but 4 of them were automatically disqualified, as they did not meet one of the criteria: to be a member of the Democratic Party. The names of the excluded candidates are Admir Mulaj, Edmond Vrapi, Marjan Jashanllari, Sabri Hoxha.
Meanwhile, there were debates about the candidate Ibsen Elezi. The latter was attacked by Democrats as a person who has constantly attacked the DP and has been part of denigrating campaigns against the DP. In the end, only the candidates Lulzim Basha, Fatbardh Kadilli, Edit Harxhi and Agron Shehaj, who registered on the last day, remained. There have been various objections to these candidates as well. While when they went to the polls, only Basha and Kadilli were approved by unanimous votes, while for Edith Harxhi there were four abstentions. Kreshnik Çollaku, Endri Hasa, Ivi Kaso and Eno Bozdo are said to have abstained.
There were more abstentions for the candidacy of Agron Shehaj. Kreshnik Çollaku, Enno Bozdo, Edi Paloka, Jorida Tabaku and Ina Zhupa abstained. Meanwhile, according to the sources of the newspaper “Panorama.al”, from the Presidency of the Democratic Party there were debates about the campaign agenda. The DP leadership was against the idea put forward by Fatbardh Kadilli that the campaign should be the same for everyone. So, all 4 candidates to debate in front of members in 12 districts and in 3 of them to have the presence of the media.
This idea has been refuted by arguing that everyone has their own scheme to campaign and the only obligation is to create conditions for equal competition. While the other debate has been about voter lists. The DP instruction stipulates that the list be published no later than 5 days before the voters, but according to Kadilli, the lists belong to Basha and Agron Shehaj. This accusation has been denied by Gazment Bardhi, who said that he has already taken away access to the heads of branches.
FULL DEBATE
Gazment Bardhi: Will we start discussions in principle or will we talk about the candidates? In the list, 4 of the candidates are not members of the Democratic Party, so they are automatically disqualified from the Race
Enkelejd Alibeaj: But we do not have to be exclusive. Maybe they are Democratic Party sympathizers and have their ideals.
Gazment Bardhi: They have been checked and are not members of the active or inactive list. They are not sympathizers. Let’s put it to the vote (4 candidates are disqualified by unanimous vote)
DISCUSSION ON OTHER CANDIDATES
Kreshnik Çollaku: I think Basha, Kadilli and Harxhi should be in the race. I do not think there is room for people who think more about their political promotion. We can not give a man a voice for political marketing. There has to be a platform, there has to be ideas. Ibsen has always wanted to destroy the PD, attacking it from behind the fence.
Enno Bozdo: I do not agree that Edit Harxhi should be in the race, because there is no special contribution in the race.
Albana Vokshi: Why not Agron and Edith? We are the Democratic Party and we are open. We should not create enemies in vain.
Gazment Bardhi: Ok, then we will only hold this draw: the list of 4 candidates.
Florion Mima: This is probably the last meeting I attend. I have no interest. But I think that in the race to be all 4 candidates let the one who has the most support from the membership win.
Jorida Tabaku: In principle, I agree that there should be a list of 4 candidates. But we can not nominate people who have moments of glory on TV. The quality of this race will show the quality of the party tomorrow and we need to make sure there is inclusiveness.
Dhurata Çupi: I also think we should include all 4 in the race. If there were people among them who threw stones at the DP, we should tell them the opposite. So, I think they should be 4th in the race. We must be principled.
Jemin Gjana: If we are based on the history of the race in the Democratic Party, then I can say that in the PD race there were mainly two candidates. There have even been cases with 1, but we will not do it like the story of Maqo Lakrori.
Enkelejd Alibeaj: For me 3 candidacies are ok. Although Editi did not do much for the Democratic Party, I think he was not a hindrance in the National Council, he voted. I do not think we should rule it out.
Grida Duma: This perpetrator has the duty not to judge anyone’s behavior, but to examine the criteria and a seriousness of the candidates’ stature. Which means that their stature must have a minimum of national public figure, in addition to other concrete criteria.
Gazment Bardhi: Ok, then let’s put the 4 candidacies to the vote. Fatbardh Kadilli and members of the commission (Albana, Belind Këlliçi) do not take part in the voting
Gazment Bardhi: Lulzim Basha? (Presidency approves by unanimous vote)
Gazment Bardhi: Fatbardh Kadilli? (Presidency approves by unanimous vote)
Gazment Bardhi: Edit Harxhi? (Approved. Kreshnik Çollaku, Endri Hasa, Enno Bozdo, Ivi Kaso abstain).
Gazment Bardhi: Agron Shehaj? (Approved. Kreshnik Çollaku, Edi Paloka, Enno Bozdo, Ivi Kaso, Ina Zhupa, Jorida Tabaku abstain)
campaign
Fatbardh Kadilli: I think that in the campaign all the candidates in 12 districts should be together and discuss in the meetings. Have a public debate. Even in three of these meetings to have the presence of the media. The organization should be done by the structure, by the Presidency and all candidates should have an agenda.
Enno Bozdo: Absolutely, I support this idea. All candidates should have an agenda.
Jemin Gjana: There is no need to have an agenda for everyone. Everyone has thought for themselves how they will conduct their campaign. We will make it possible for everyone to campaign equally. What one candidate will have, the other will have.
Edmon Spaho: You have an hour to complain. The audience chooses for themselves who to listen to. We should not assign it to ourselves.
Fatbardh Kadilli: I’m not looking for this.
Dhurata Çupi: We have an hour to gather and discuss only on this topic, while from your statements it results that you do not trust the Presidency. I do not understand how the campaign can be done for everyone equally. Everyone has their own strategy, they have their own way of presenting their platform. The proposal is put to the vote and rejected (vote in favor of Enno Bozdo and Ivi Kaso)
LIST OF VOTERS
Fatbardh Kadilli: We, the candidates, must have the voter list available. This list has Agron Shehaj and Lulzim Basha. Agron Shehaj sends a birthday message to PD members.
Gazment Bardhi: None of the candidates has either the large membership list or the list of 75,000 active members. It can only have those of its own unit.
Grida Duma: You can have it too, because you were the human resources secretary.
Fatbardh Kadilli: No, I do not.
Gazment Bardhi: No one has it and can not have it, because there is personal data of them. I have even now removed the access from the electronic register of the heads of branches in the districts./panorama
