Debates accompanied the meeting of the National Council of the Democratic Party, after the leader of the DP, Sali Berisha, refused to include the draft resolution presented by the member of the National Council, Ilirjana Kuçana, on the agenda.
After Berisha presented the candidacies for key positions in the party, Kuçana asked for the floor, emphasizing that he had filed the draft resolution 24 hours earlier and requested that it be discussed by the National Council.
"Please, I have a request that I submitted 24 hours ago. We are members of the National Council," said Kuçana.
The request was opposed by the chair of the meeting, Julja Emiri, who explained that the National Council had an approved agenda and that statutory procedures did not allow for consideration of the resolution at that time.
"On the agenda today is a defined program and we will continue with it initially," said the Emiri.
Sali Berisha also intervened in the debate, addressing Kuçana, reminding him that the presentation of resolutions is regulated by the Statute of the Democratic Party.
"Iliriana, submitting resolutions has its own rules. You will absolutely have the right to submit as many times as you want, but only according to the rules. Read the statute... We cannot write the statute here now. I have answered you and told you: follow the statute," Berisha declared.
Despite Kuçana's insistence, the meeting leaders did not put the draft resolution to a vote, arguing that its consideration should be carried out according to the procedures set out in the Democratic Party Statute.
Debate:
Ilirjana Kuçana: Please, I have a request, which I submitted 24 hours ago. We are members of the National Council.
Julia Emiri: Of course, yes, the statute has an agenda today. There is an agenda and the agenda will be implemented first, and I have given you this answer.
Berisha: Iliriana, don't start... One minute. No, one minute, one minute. One minute. I'm talking to you to answer. The presentation of resolutions has its own rules. You will absolutely have the right to present them as many times as you want, but only according to the rules. Read the statute now... Iliriana, one more time. Excuse me, one minute.
Julia Emiri: Today there is an agenda and we will continue with the agenda first.
What does the draft resolution foresee?
Ilirjana Kuçana's draft resolution contains a package of proposals and criticisms about the way the Democratic Party functions.
On the political front, the document calls on the DP to declare unconditional support for the civil protests against the government, calling on members and supporters to join them as citizens, without taking on the responsibility of organizing the protests. The resolution also proposes that the party officially support the protesters' demands, including the resignation of the government and the creation of a caretaker government, as well as condemn police violence against the protesters.
The document also contains criticism of the internal functioning of the DP. According to Kuçana, the party has moved away from the principles of the Re-establishment and the opening process has produced "a new bunkerization" of the leadership.
Another point is related to the final list of members of the National Council. The author claims that the list does not match the one approved by the National Assembly and requests the reinstatement of the voted list, as well as taking measures against the persons responsible for the changes.
The resolution also calls for transparency in the selection of the Secretary-General, vice-presidents and secretariats, the establishment of an Intellectuals' Forum and a Student Forum, as well as the establishment of an ethical standard prohibiting the holding of leadership positions by individuals with business interests directly or indirectly linked to the government.
