There is an unchanged demand in the “Flamingo Protest” that is openly and loudly shouted against the current political establishment, against every political protagonist, against everything related to post-90s politics and even against characters who are indifferent to it. As usually happens in such times, reason is drowned out by emotion and unfortunately, journalism cannot get past this threshold, where the cries of “We” and “Them” dominate, to truly understand the situation we are in and what opportunities exist to change it. The truth is that: we have very few options. The properties unjustly taken will never return to the Lords (!); the truly persecuted will never get their lives back; the corrupt administration that has done the fatherland will never return the money or the proper service; the makuts who are currently in prison will not hand over or be forced to ‘donate’ the extortions; Education and healthcare cannot be regulated as we would like.

At best, this would take decades, if change were to begin today. Corruption is no longer known by this definition, but simply normality (!). Worse still, it seems that even political parties in the Albanian space mostly evaluate members (read those who are catapulted) based on their ability to corrupt rather than on the basis of their appearance and moral criteria. And, the consequence of this is why there are so many corrupt people and why they are not performing well today, even by Generation Z who are demanding change on the Boulevard!

In themselves and deep down, all Albanians know that ideal change cannot happen in a society like ours, even with the "Flamingos" and those who may come after them. The test is no longer how much the SP and the DP or the small parties win, but how much those parties can give up a little of theirs so that society can see and enjoy a little more democracy before itself. Ironically, political parties in Albania enjoy much less respect than they did when the multi-party system was applied.

The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), in its annual National Survey “Trust in Institutions”, produces clear data, which confirm that parties are at the bottom of trust among Albanian citizens, often receiving less than 20% trust. Over 70% of respondents in the IDM and ISP (Institute of Political Studies) studies state that public institutions and key reforms are guided by narrow party interests and not by public benefit. Conclusion: Nearly 77% of citizens express pessimism about the future. Albanians are already deeply aware that political parties cannot change the level of corruption, since the system of public administration and procurement itself is seen as “captured” by the parties in power.

In its empirical study, the ISP shows that the Albanians surveyed not only see that the parties do not represent the interests of their community, just as the SP and the DP make political pacts and reforms, simply pushed under international pressure, leaving out the basic demands of citizens for completely open lists or free voting. In a free perception and, especially in those brought to us by the "Flamingo Protest", citizens view the parties as closed organizations (This was seen in the internal elections of the DP and now in Rama's BESA), extremely distant from the people, pregnant with stale conflicts and a low level of members (Parliament is proof). The SP and the DP not only do not recognize accountability, but are cynical about respect for meritocracy, so much so that Albanians often wonder why this system can be called democratic. Citizen protests have shown that political arguments can be articulated without this political status quo and beyond the flags of the DP and SP, and that people's cooperation defeats propaganda of any kind.

The people on the Boulevard are demanding the return of dignity and integrity, not what the SP and DP are currently exerting in the life of the country. Prime Minister Rama reacted and although he admits it, the lesson he has learned from the protest is great, as do the Albanian citizen and many of the politicians around him. And yet, political parties are theoretically the voice of the people and the way democracy is exercised in a society. And they do not exist because they are required by politicians, but because modern societies cannot function without groups that do not simply express ideas and citizens, but with their programs they seek to materialize them with public policies, with responsible decision-making and with the organization of normal elections, where the test of those who are claimed to be made by them is carried out. Someone must have the tag for managing institutions. And this is the true role of political parties. Even with a democratic rise that was not as advanced and with a lack of literature as today, and even without today's experience and training, some of the Albanian intellectuals of the 30s made a difference by seeking to first enlighten the Albanians.

From their ideas was born “Neo-Albanianism” but also the desire for a different Albania, the one that is normally desecrated today. Many years later, today's political parties throughout the Albanian space have ceased to exist as units of people who think about ideas and are extensions of the leader. The SP, the PD, the PR, the Human Rights Party and a group of other parties in Albania do not recognize internal democracy and normal elections; VV and AAK until recently in Kosovo; DUI in North Macedonia are living examples, among many others. The phenomenon that unites them all is that internal discussions of ideas and efforts for reform are replaced by the discipline and rigor of 1 (The One), arguments by loyalty, and membership by the unfettered approval of decisions made by a narrow circle of people (read the group next to the chairman). In principle, a party should not exist because of the leaders, but rather those people who believe in ideals, even though this is already forgotten in Albania, just as the idea of ​​political representation has been lost. However, the curse is that: parties are needed because only with them is change sought and made, which is what is desired, without hindering Albania's integration into the EU (apparently a reality in 2030). And what is left today? Political parties are no longer seen as an "instrument of public utility", but simply as electoral machines that distribute jobs in the administration and public contracts (procurement) to their clientele. The "flamingos" must become aware of these truths, which in democracy are like sunlight, at least for countries like ours, which want change but cannot challenge it with reason and will. (Homo Albanicus)./Gazeta Panorama