After much noise and near-chaos created around and within the socialist majority following the indictment of Belinda Balluku, Edi Rama acted by replacing half of the government after a lengthy meeting of the parliamentary group. Suddenly, when it seemed that nothing would happen, despite the great pressure of public opinion, internationals, the opposition and perhaps even a part of the SP, the Prime Minister intervened to restore calm or to insist on the refractory stance that was evident during the long speech he gave in the presence of the media.
But in fact, it neither restored calm within the SP, nor appeased the international community, nor will it relieve the pressure of public opinion. And this for several reasons related to the names that have moved on and moved on within the cabinet, but which represent nothing more than the next chapter of the "push it as far as we can".
Let's start with the issue and status of Balluku. Rama did indeed dismiss the deputy prime minister from her post, from which she was suspended by SPAK and GJKKO with the "blessing" of the Constitutional Court, but now justice is not enough. For Mrs. Balluku, the lifting of immunity has been requested in order to communicate a still unclear measure of removal or even simply restriction of freedom. So, the dismissal by No. 2 of the government was an overdue issue. And it is understood that the SP under the dictate of the chairman does not intend to take into account this request of SPAK.
But worse still, the unknown names appointed ministers yesterday evening are all her trusted people, which makes Rama's move a null movement. So, the changes do not change anything; even worse, they worsen the situation as they further expose the unlimited power of the former deputy prime minister in the government. And even more so in the SP, where no one to this day dares to say a single word in public about why Rama is no longer really prime minister, but only formally.
Even the internal movements have been made under the same logic: people connected to her or who entered the September government with her blessing have changed government positions. In this sense, the internationals, the dissatisfied socialists and the opposition have received a message: “let the dogs bark, the caravan moves forward”. As for public opinion, it will become aware in the first two or three weeks that the only truth of the changes in the government is that nothing has changed.
Meanwhile, something even clearer has happened in this regard. The departure of Elisa Spiropali, who had begun to emerge as Balluk's opponent in the Socialist Party, was a signal that Rama is not only not a real prime minister, but is also being used as a tool for purges. And not just any purge. We are talking about the person who, in these six months, was the only member of the cabinet who had maintained a satisfactory level of contacts with Western partners, not only for reasons of function. Especially with those Americans, who have not been able to find a single minute of time for an official meeting with Rama since Antony Blinken's visit to Tirana. The handshake at the Gaza Peace Board took place in a multilateral and not a bilateral context.
But in order not to be seen as a threat with this rude departure of Spiropali, Rama found a solution to sell Toni Gogu as the next interlocutor. But this move would only make sense if it is true that Rama confuses Erion Veliaj with Marco Rubio. Of course, it is a matter of misunderstanding!
However, despite the clear likelihood of change in the absence of change, there is also a move that could reduce the costs of the damages that have been caused in delicate areas, such as in the case of the Ministry of Defense. KAYO and the dubious contracts signed in the dark of information and with more than dubious partners, with the departure of Pirro Vengu can be reviewed and restore calm with our military partners. Although this will depend on the decisions of the new minister, whose name we will most likely learn only after he leaves office!
However, a government, by the way it is built in relation to names, also shows its integrity and that of the majority that produces it. In this sense, the reconfirmation of the general mediocrity that has gripped it, adding an even more worrying dose of political and public anonymity, makes the situation more serious than it was. Because Balluku's departure really seems like a release valve for the pressure created, but on the other hand it further delegitimizes this government and, consequently, the majority itself, which still has some characters with weight of legitimacy within it, such as Erion Braçe, Blendi Çuçi or Blendi Klosi. None of them were deemed reasonable to return to the cabinet.
And yet, Rama held his hand by not including Zeqine Çauçi or any other similar character in the government, who would indeed keep the satirical shows and meme pages on Facebook and Instagram busy, but would make us feel nostalgic for our friend Lenka. At least she was a distinguished milkmaid!
In conclusion, it can be said that the very poor quality of the government's composition and Rama's inability to build a political cabinet acceptable to the public, the SP and the international community, indeed keep the Rama government afloat formally, but in the meantime they have essentially brought down Rama politically. Rama is gone, he simply doesn't understand!
