The "Basha" article in the DP Statute seems to make it difficult for the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, to be reconfirmed as the party leader in the elections of May 23, 2026. The Vice President of the FRPD, Alesia Balliu, has addressed the DP Presidency in a letter informing it of, as she puts it, "the conclusion of the end of Berisha's mandate as president of the DP", after losing the elections of May 11, 2025. The letter states that Berisha has been exercising the duty of president of the DP without a mandate, since September 9, 2025.

Referring to the provisions of Article 46, baptized by Berisha as the "Basha" article, when he amended the party's Constitution during the proceedings of the Assembly of December 11, 2021, and later took over the leadership of the party, Balliu says that Flamur Noka should be appointed at the head of the DP, in the position of the Commander-in-Chief of the DP until the election of the new leader.

But what seems to be the most important part of all the submissions by DP National Council member Alesia Balliu has to do with what could happen to the incumbent leader, Sali Berisha.

Balliu requests "the ban on the candidacy of citizen Sali Ram Berisha for the position of President of the DPA in the elections of 23.05.2026 according to the Decision of the DPA Presidency no. 35 dated 17.03.2026".

Her letter states that "any decision-making by Berisha after 04.09.2025 is absolutely invalid and, as such, cannot bring legal consequences as long as the body that took them has not been in function after the end of the mandate". Date 04.09.2025 marks the entry into force of Decision no. 34 of the Regulatory Commission and Decision no. 30 of the Electoral College, which have been recognized and respected even through conclusive actions by the DPA".

"Hopefully your immediate reaction and the organization of the DPA Presidency meeting as soon as possible, we request the implementation of the mandatory provisions of the Statute, as well as respect for the will and contribution of over 5 thousand delegates and 10 thousand members of the DPA, who at the appropriate time, in the National Assembly, have clearly defined the way the party functions. This will must be implemented by every governing body and by every official at all levels," the document addressed to the Presidency reads.

On the other hand, the leader of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, has declared that he will be part of the May 23 race, despite the statutory provisions, adding that the May 11 elections were an electoral farce and not a loss of a race between equals.

However, this move by one of the members of the DP National Council seems to be the first step towards sending the Statute to Court, where its compatibility with current decision-making and allegations of its violation are expected to be examined.

In this context, the situation within the DP remains unclear, with developments that could directly affect the progress of the internal competition and the political balances within it.

As the movement for change in the DP continues, the former MP Ervin Salianji stated on "Studio24" with Ola Bruko, that he would not appeal the DP Statute to the Court, so as not to give Prime Minister Edi Rama, as he put it, "this advantage, leaving the DP at the doors of the Court."

"I am trusting the political process, which needs change in the DP, by giving way through this process. But from a legal point of view, a simple lawsuit in the Tirana Court puts the DP in another predicament, but I do not want to give Rama another advantage by leaving the DP at the court's doors, but that this is resolved from a legal point of view, it is known," Salianji said in Studio24.