FLASH
Shkruar nga Irena Beqiraj
Decision-making has been and continues to be concentrated in the hands of one man and a close group around him, with everyone else, without exception, there to execute orders without any resistance and to slam the door.
If I were to define in one phrase the summary of the news I read during the month of July, starting from the mass dismissals of municipal directors, the transfer of construction permits over 6 floors to the Prime Minister, the signing of illegal contracts out of fear of Erion Veliaj, and the dismissal of a police officer by the Prime Minister, the phrase would be just one: "Unprecedented concentration of power or authority."
While individual corruption is present in all societies, systemic corruption is installed in societies where two conditions are met:
-There is a high concentration of power or authority in one person or a small group of individuals, who are placed in positions to adapt the rules to their interests and to rule above the law; and
-When this concentration of power in social culture is accepted as a normal and tolerable situation.
Unfortunately, state offices are being "populated" by powerless leaders and employees, who consider it normal and acceptable for power to be distributed unequally and, as such, a more powerful person can decide even on matters that are entirely within their discretion and responsibility.
For example, the Mayor of Vlora accepts that the Prime Minister, in the eyes of the Majlis, can request the resignation of all the directors with whom he works, even though according to the law, evaluating their work is his sole competence.
The director of TOB signs a contract, even though she knows it is illegal, because the wife of a powerful man demands it. The same thing happens in the Municipality of Fier.
Clearly, decision-making has been and continues to be concentrated in the hands of one man and a close group around him; everyone else, without exception, is there to execute orders without any resistance and to slam the door.
The distance created with the power or authority that each official must exercise according to position and law strengthens state power concentrated in a few hands, increasing the incentives of other individuals to engage in proactive or defensive corruption.
Meanwhile, the installation of this exemplary culture of obedience to power rather than to the law is one of the greatest obstacles to change. It is not only reinforcing certain behaviors of members of society, but over time it is unconsciously accepted as normal.
The acceptance by mayors of the Prime Minister to exercise their powers even in staff matters (an old habit of the latter), or the issuance of illegal contracts "out of fear", shows that our "democratic" state is a system that has standardized the behavior of officials and the interpretation of the law by obeying the power of the government and hoping for protection from it.
Institutional decision-making has been adapted to powerful individuals, instead of being adapted to the interests of society.
By giving up the power and authority that the law gives them, by not daring to practice "no" as an answer, the Mayor, the Director of TOB, the staff of the Municipality of Fier or Tirana, the Minister, have unanimously accepted as normal that their actions and inactions are guided by only one objective: to avoid at all costs being on the wrong side of the redistribution of the goods that come from power, while also hoping for protection from it.
Well, increasing the power of "democratic" government is the only successful socialist policy that has finally installed systemic corruption in Albania.
To understand this, there is no need for Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Committees or anti-corruption units; just read the July news.
Lini një Përgjigje