“I have decided to take a step back by resigning from the post of DP chairman, with the intention and determination to help re-establish and unite the Democrats and the Democratic Party (DP) as the only hope for Albanians.”
This was announced by Basha in a statement during the meeting with the parliamentary group and the college of mayors, where he said that he is taking a step back to enable the revival of the Democratic Party.
The meeting took place on Monday evening a week after 25 deputies of Basha’s parliamentary group abandoned him after the defeat of March 6, and when a handful of supporters backed him.
Basha used the standard expression that in this way paves the way for the unification of the party. “I personally invested everything for a solution that would serve both the Democratic Party and transparency. Today I do not want to dwell on what happened and how it happened, who was right and who was wrong, I am convinced that time will clarify this,” said Basha, who in the meantime lashed out at the current government for deepening the crisis.
Basha did not mention the former veteran leader Sali Berisha who has become the promoter of forcing him to resign after 8 years in power during which he led the DP to 5 losses against PM Edi Rama.
Further Basha said April 25 (the time when general elections were held in Albania last year) was a severe blow to the Democrats, to democracy and to the hopes of Albanians for change after 8 years of unfulfilled promises, corruption and ridicule with the pain and sorrow of the people.
According to him, his attempt to keep the DP united failed because he and his Democrat supporters faced a campaign of unprofessional and untrue attacks that created a spirit of disruption, and “as a result today the Democratic Party is experiencing a deep crisis.”
Basha said he would be fully committed and would never abandon the Democrats’ sacrifice. This means that he would continue to work tirelessly, unwaveringly committing himself to the revival of the values, principles and standards as Democrats in the party, he said, adding that Democrats are tired of the internal conflict, of the campaigns and the denigrating language, from which the Democratic Party and Albania are harmed and only Edi Rama and his clique benefit.
Although he fought in every way to stay at the helm of the DP, it seems that Lulzim Basha no longer resisted the pressure of the Democrats.
According to the party statute in cases of resignation of the chairman, the Secretary General convenes the National Council, which commands the Vice-Chairman who will lead the Party until the election of a new chairman.
Given that the two vice chairmen Agron Gjekmarkaj and Grida Duma have resigned, the two current vice presidents Enkelejd Alibeaj and Jorida Tabaku will take over DP’s leadership commanded by the General Secretary, Gazment Bardhi. /Argumentum.al
