FLASH
Shkruar nga Ervis Iljazaj
A party's program cannot be transversal because then it has no political character. The DP's program on the economy is, so to speak, a liberal-socialist contradiction in terms of the economic vision and the role of the state...
The Democratic Party's economic program for the May 11 elections is more or less the same as in 2005. Essentially, its economic program provides for tax cuts, aid to business, and policies that are based primarily on economic freedom and the free market. In general, it is a good program, also due to the fact that a right-wing party always has the market economy and free economic initiative at the core of its program.
The problem lies in the rest of the program. On the one hand, the DP proposes low taxes, free economic initiative, on the other hand, strong social policies such as pension increases, salary increases by government decision, or even the living wage. As it calls its social policies, the ''Compassion Package''.
There is an ideological contradiction in this whole story. Apart from the fact that this program is really possible in this way, i.e. by reducing the fiscal burden and increasing social policies, there is an identity problem. A party's program cannot be transversal because then it has no political character. The DP's program for the economy is, so to speak, a liberal-socialist contradiction in terms of the economic vision and the role of the state.
The Democratic Party has taken the best of both worlds to build its program. From the left, it has taken social policies and from the right, it has taken low taxes and a market economy.
Both political sides have the same goal, to fight poverty. But if the left does it by taxing more those who earn more and by redistributing wealth, that is, by having a greater role for the state. The right, fights poverty by promoting employment, the market and by taxing everyone equally because it values meritocracy. Just as the DP has proposed a flat tax for everyone, regardless of how much they earn.
But poverty cannot be fought by both reducing taxes and increasing spending on social policies. At the very least, it is a contradiction of political identity, without going into whether it is truly financially possible. In this sense, the Democratic Party should think about how it will fight poverty in Albania. By making a small state, by reducing taxes and promoting the market and employment, or through social policies and distribution?
All political parties in Albania, whenever they are asked where they will find the money for their policies, the answer they give is that they will fight corruption and theft from the budget. This is the same answer that has been given here for 30 years, and the Democratic Party has this answer today.
However, it has become normal for parties during campaign periods to open their bags and promise paradise for Albanian citizens. But at the very least, they should do so by creating a clear political identity, and differentiating themselves from other parties. In this way, we will have a fairer, clearer and more efficient competition for the future of Albania. Political identity is an essential element for success. Whoever thinks that to achieve success you have to promise everything while being transversal in your ideology is wrong. People are looking for political parties that have a clear vision for society, the economy and politics.
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