FLASH
Shkruar nga Lorenc Vangjeli
On the left side of the hall, laughter cheered confidently for its leader, while on the right, they consoled themselves that if not Saliu, Luli knew enough swimming and English to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
It was one of the most spectacular challenges of Albanian politics. Between the two most powerful people in official Tirana. One prime minister in his second term, the other his predecessor, in his second term in opposition. One sharp-tongued, the other sharp-tongued. In between them stood a candidate for prime minister, who expected to become one by climbing on the shoulders of one and behind the back of the other.
The first to speak was Edi Rama and throw down the gauntlet of challenge.
The second was Sali Berisha who justified himself and could not ignore the challenge.
The third was Lulzim Basha, who would only win if Rama and Berisha lost simultaneously.
"Now I have a direct question for you, Sali! Can you cross the Ocean on a ram?"
Berisha responded that he had withdrawn from active politics. That he had stopped all official trips, that he no longer travels, because he did not represent any political party.
"I get invitations every two months, but I don't want to go myself!"
The solemn challenge was opened under the confused gazes of dozens of deputies who participated in that parliamentary session in February 2019. The vast majority of them had tickets to that performance, but did not understand the text, they were witnesses of the drama, but had no connection to its essence. On the left of the hall, laughter cheered more confidently for its leader, on the right they consoled themselves that if not Saliu, Luli knew enough swimming and English to cross the Atlantic Ocean.
A full six years and nine months later, the challenge had its unexpected winner. A winner who went through defeat after defeat in general and local elections in Tirana, along with Non Grata in Washington, with a single triumph over his own Luli and with a cyclical struggle with justice.
Revenge is always present on the Balkan menus. Now elected vice president of the CDI, a political grouping of parties from almost all over the world, Berisha did word for word and fixed as he was verbally challenged in the Albanian Parliament in February 2019: “…can you cross the ocean?” “Yes, I can!” What millions of dollars of lobbying, hopes for a ticket to New York, moral and financial prayers and entreaties did not do, the invitation to Brazil did.
Sali Berisha crossed the ocean. He even went to America. But just like Columbus once searched for India and discovered America, the Doctor did not go to North America, but to Latin America.
Six years and nine months later, Rama lost, but he is prime minister. Berisha won even though he knows that sooner or later, with rare exceptions, he will hear the motif of the old song sung as an anthem in his party's courtyard:
We took up arms to fight,
For the DP and for the homeland,
How could we, the poor, know,
That the enemy was with us!/JavaNews
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