Flor Binaj/ The independent policeman and Rama's policemen

2025-10-24 18:56:00, Opinione Armand Shkullaku

For the government, Binaj should not be eliminated as an independent, but as a Berisha man. Only in this way can the myth that the opposition is to blame, and not the autocrat, continue to give fuel to Rama's ruminant herd.

The candidacy of a variety show actor to become mayor is enough raw material to raise doubts and criticism, whether or not he was the right alternative for the capital. But what is striking these days, after the announcement of Florian Binaj's candidacy and the support from the united opposition, is a propaganda campaign that hits only one point: Binaj is not independent; He was selected by Sali Berisha; He is paid by Berisha's TV; He is being used by the Democratic Party, etc., etc.

In all the media close to the government, it seems that a single hand is taking care that the attack on the atypical candidate in the early elections in Tirana, destroys the epithet "independent". Binaj should be presented as the candidate of Berisha or the Berisha family. In the circumstances when both the DP and Berisha have accepted Binaj as their candidate, with whom they will jointly enter the elections, it seems somewhat strange that all the investment of Rama's spin doctors goes to the "class" affiliation of Manastirliu's competitor.

For the former Orange policeman, there are plenty of arguments to question his effectiveness as a candidate and alternative for Tirana. Can someone who has no experience in management or strong political commitment create trust among voters? How well does he know Tirana's problems and what guarantees do he have for solving them? Is being a public figure enough to create the belief that another governance model for the capital is possible? Adding to these dilemmas some criticism of Binaj's performances so far, the government media would not have a hard time questioning his candidacy as the right choice for Tirana. But no, the number one problem they raise is the independence or otherwise of the anti-government candidate.

Binaj would most likely not have run at all if he did not have the support of Sali Berisha. Whether he received this support behind the scenes or after he decided to run is not very important in determining his public profile. Everyone knows that the actor-activist is not a hardened PD militant, unlike many of his showbiz colleagues. The former Rama impersonator has never been part of Berisha's inner circle, nor even of other clans around the PD. He is more remembered for public appearances with figures from the majority than as a prominent opposition activist. Also, everyone knows, including government journalists, that the show Piranjat is an outsourcing production, where Binaj has the role of moderator and not author.

Then why all this campaign to portray the opposition candidate as a man not only selected but also close to Berisha? It is clear that Rama's propagandists know very well that in Tirana, as in all of Albania, there are no elections. That votes are predetermined by corruption money, by gangs, blackmail and buying off opponents. They are witnesses to the sui generis renaissance phenomenon that the more the scandals deepen, the more votes for the party increase. However, to cover up the nullification of the elections and to justify the daily bowl of soup, they have only one theory: There are elections, but Sali Berisha is to blame. Rama can win with votes, but the opposition is not convinced that it is not opening, not renewing, not transforming, not privatizing, not sweetening...

A candidate who comes from civil society, who has not had a single day in power on his CV, who is not a blind militant or mouthpiece of the president, constitutes precisely the choice that the power-hungry ones have been preaching for years as the right path for the opposition facing Rama. Not with Bershirists but with activists and civilians. But is this the Achilles' heel for the unchanging power in Albania? Of course not. Binaj would be a concrete example that in confronting a regime, responsibility should not be sought from the opposition, but from the power that annihilates every opponent, every voice against, every attempt to even give birth to something new. Annihilation with media propaganda, bribery, blackmail, threats and even imprisonment.

For the government, Binaj should not be eliminated as an independent, but as a man of Berisha. Only in this way can the fable that the irredeemable opposition is to blame and not the autocrat who does not allow elections, still give a boost to Rama's ruminant herd. This herd will continue not to see the tens of millions of euros that are burned in Sharra and other millions from the 5D that are poured into campaigns. Not even the money from construction permits, money laundering and stolen taxes, with which votes are stolen to steal Tirana and Albania. The ruminants cannot and do not want to talk about this. They need to equate Binaj with Berisha to continue the refrain of shame that the opposition is to blame tomorrow.