Tabaku: The government has failed with corruption, the battle of the opposition must be fought in institutions

2024-06-06 22:43:00, Politikë CNA

Tabaku: The government has failed with corruption, the battle of the opposition

The deputy of the Democratic Party, Jorida Tabaku, accused the socialist majority in power of having failed in the fight against corruption and of promoting the culture of corruption for years, without ever having the political will to fight the phenomenon. However, according to Mrs. Tabaku, the opposition should develop its battles within institutions or parliamentary mechanisms that are established on this issue, such as the special commission established only with the votes of the socialist majority. During the interview with her colleague Menada Zaimi, Mrs. Tabaku, talks about the future of the opposition, Mr. Berisha's role in the Democratic Party, and even his daughter, Argita Malltezi.

Voice of America: Ms. Tabaku, in some recent reports it seems that the issue of corruption is one of the main problems for Albanians. In recent days, the majority proposed and voted for a commission that will aim for a new cycle of reforms for the rule of law, good governance and anti-corruption. You personally, as well as the vast majority of the opposition, have opposed this initiative. Basically, why do you think it should not be supported?

Jorida Tabaku: It is true that today we are in a new situation. Where corruption has unfortunately become one of the main problems. The latest polls published yesterday in Albania show that while corruption was considered an obstacle and threat by 25% of Albanians, in 2023 45% of Albanians considered it.

This means that corruption has become endemic, spread as a culture in the system, which unfortunately has not been fought in 10 years, on the contrary, it has been raised in this system that I am talking about. There is the perception and opinion that with corruption you succeed. That honest work is not valued as much as corrupt affairs. And this situation required a political will to fight. A political will that has unfortunately failed to exist, and that has failed to fight corruption. The opposition does not fight corruption.

On behalf of the opposition, I have made endless proposals for the fight against corruption. The legal package, the initiatives immediately after the investigative commission of the incinerators, but they have all fallen on deaf ears.

While today the majority is trying precisely for the establishment of this commission as a way to take the flag of a battle that it cannot take. Because if we are in this situation because of corruption, we are because of the lack of political will to fight corruption, which has come from the government.

While we have some institutions that condemn it, good or bad, working, on the other hand, the whole system has inspired, encouraged the corrupt culture that exists in Albania today. I believe that this political will has been missing and cannot be done with a commission for 5 or 6 months.

We should have declared the fight against corruption a national priority, here several years ago. And I don't want this to be used as an electoral tool.

But having said that, I always believe that it is better for us to be a part, than not to be. I have opposed the establishment of this commission because of the way things have developed, but I think that we cannot leave the fight against corruption to those who instigated it and brought corruption to this level.

VOA: When you say that we should be part of it, you will say that to your colleagues and other members of the opposition parliamentary group. And will you be part of it, because so far it hasn't happened?

Jorida Tabaku: The commission has not been set up yet. It is being erected as we speak. I have discussed with the colleagues of the parliamentary group the opinion that I have on this matter. I don't have to make those public statements. I have always insisted on participation in institutions. I have always urged that we have institutional spaces to discuss. Look, I cannot correct the government. Government is what it is. But we must do everything in our power to encourage, so that the Albanians believe in us, that we can really do it differently.

Voice of America: Ms. Tabaku, the opposition has opposed and has not been a part of another commission set up for disinformation issues. A sensitive issue which has become a concern, especially for the interventions of Russia or China. There has recently been an agreement between the USA and the EU precisely for this. Why do you reject this commission?

Jorida Tabaku: It is not that we are rejecting this commission. In a functional democracy like America and Albania, at the end of the day respect for the institutions keeps us, the space that the opposition has, respect for the institution of the opposition on the one hand, but on the other hand the fact that it does not have to be a tyranny of the majority.

The majority does not have to decide everything. There is no normal discussion about spaces and cooperation in this direction today in the Albanian parliament. I judge that the issue of disinformation is being used again for electoral purposes. There is a very thin line that separates it from the freedom of the media, from the spaces that exist today for the media in Albania, which have deteriorated. Which is one of the indicators of a democracy that does not work. Albania is always on the decline in terms of Reporters Without Borders reports. The way the commission was set up, how it was drafted and how it was approved, without any discussion and on the other hand, leaving a very narrow space for interpretation, from the point of view of media freedom, needed more discussion.

This is a very important issue, as you said. The United States of America signed an agreement, the European Parliament has had a mechanism, to encourage a debate on this issue and it cannot be used for electoral purposes. We have to take this issue seriously and it's an issue that I really think needs all structures with as wide an involvement as possible. The Albanian government has also signed an agreement with Secretary of State Blinken, for this, in terms of the global disinformation mechanism, which is directed here at the State Department. Bearing in mind the main element which is the freedom of the media.

Voice of America: Ms. Tabaku, boycotts have penalized the opposition quite a bit in the past. Don't you think that such a dismissive attitude can be counter-productive for you? Because you see the reform commission as an electoral movement, while with your non-participation, you can create the opportunity for the majority to say that it is you who prevented the further fight against corruption...

Jorida Tabaku: Listen to who raised corruption in the system, who raised it on a pedestal, regarding the economy and how it works, everything is very clear. I believe that the problems we have today with the economy are related precisely to corruption. The way the economy has developed, the lack of meritocracy, the system of concentration of the economy in a few hands, is a corrupt affair in itself. That said, I've never been one for non-participation. From this studio here, I have called for participation because the boycott has not helped us. It is better to be than not to be, so as not to leave them the flag on this very important issue.

But on the other hand, I repeat once again, the minimum and respect for the institution that the opposition has, but at the same time the parliamentary space, I believe that these are important things that we should discuss. The opposition cannot be taken for granted on the one hand, but on the other hand, we also need a lot of work, to continue and show people how the opposition will fight corruption. There are several mechanisms that exist. There is certainly a wide legal scope to change, but at the end of the day it takes this steely will to do so.

Voice of America: Do you think, Ms. Tabaku, that the opposition is inspiring future voters with its causes? The elections will be very soon. The opposition is holding protests, in front of the municipality, in front of the parliament.

Jorida Tabaku: There are several elements that we have tried over the years. We have tried the protest, we have tried engagement in the parliament, we have also tried talking to the people. And we have been most effective when we have combined all of these. It is very good that all the anger, all the anger that people have materialized in the protest, to show that there really is a spirit of protest. But this should go hand in hand with what you say. With the creation of inspiration, with an alternative, both economic and political. An alternative to change the system, which also comes from the people, certainly comes with the people. Even with a program, a discussion with citizens should be attached to this form of protest. I think that we have put the position in a more difficult position, then when we had the strength of the word and the strength of the argument. Having said that, I believe that it is the moment to alternate all the elements together to firstly show this civic anger and this civic anger and secondly to show that the opposition is the one that will change Albania. And this certainly needs a wider effort on the one hand, but also an inclusiveness on the other. Today we definitely need to overcome the debates and discussions related to issues that are not related to citizens and focus on issues related to people. And I emphasize once again, the economy is the main problem and concern they have. And that's what we have to talk about today. Let's offer solutions for the economy and how we will change the system that today unfortunately has led Albania to that place where they leave and run away. It's not quite the paradise we all want to believe it is.

Voice of America: Ms. Tabaku, the decision on the so-called issue of the seal of the Democratic Party is expected next week. What are your expectations? How much will the decision on this issue affect the future of the opposition, which continues to suffer division?

Jorida Tabaku: It is true that it is not the best moment from the point of view of internal discussions, discussions that have actually been going on for a long time. I said it in this studio and I keep repeating it. At the end of the day, the word sustains us and persistence sustains us. The issue of the Democratic Party is an issue that is resolved by political will. An issue that requires all actors, opposition factors, but not only, more widely, to join in a discourse that helps us overcome this phase we are in, which unfortunately is lasting a little more than what it takes, and this impasse we are in, to focus on the offer that people expect from us. I believe that the opposition must definitely be united in the next elections. I must believe that there is a need for each of us to overcome personal interest, but also personal ego, to go to the citizens with a complete offer, not with a fragmented offer. Otherwise, this system will penalize the opposition, it will simultaneously penalize the voters, not only the democrats, but also the citizens who reject the government by voting, but who are unable to maximize the result if the opposition is divided.

Voice of America: Do you see a future for PD with Berisha at the head, a politician who has been declared non-grata in the USA and Great Britain?

Jorida Tabaku: Even on this issue, I have the same attitude that I have held in these years. I have respect and appreciation for Mr. Berisha, which I have expressed on other occasions, and I would not have wanted this to happen to him. It is not good news, neither for the PD, nor for Mr. Berisha, nor for Albania. He is a figure who has greatly influenced not only the Democratic Party, but also Albania. But I would have hoped that his personal battle would be separated from the Democratic Party, to overcome this moment. And I believe that we have many opportunities and we have a lot of space, we also have time for the next elections, to focus exactly on what is important to the people, on the expansion of the Democratic Party, on the spirit that we can create, but also on our alternative.

Voice of America: Regarding Argita Malltezi, do you see her as a possible leader of the party, based on the fact that recently she has taken a more prominent role in politics?

Jorida Tabaku: We talk all day about free and fair elections. We talk about democracy. We talk about meritocracy and I believe that these are the values ??that the Democratic Party should have and should keep, in order to go beyond individuals. It doesn't matter what Jorida, Argita, Gazi, Mr. Basha, or anyone does today. For us, it is important that the Democratic Party, which is a national asset, transmits this spirit and leaves it as a legacy , leaves it as a legality after each of us has left, precisely this spirit. It was created with some important values, I believe, based on European values, American values ??and on these it should continue. Just as I believe for Albania, just as I believe for the economy, we must definitely leave a western breath. Albania is Europe. The Democratic Party is European. Everything in what we do is European, but we have to be Western. And this spirit comes based on the values ??that the West has./ VOA