Ditari i Opozitës

Berisha in Fier: 34 years of the Democratic Party, a history of pride and dedication to Albania

Berisha in Fier: 34 years of the Democratic Party, a history of pride and
Opposition leader Sali Berisha participated in the ceremony for the 34th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party branch in Fier, where he delivered a long speech on the party's achievements and its challenges over the years.

Berisha praised the role of the Fier Democrats, who, according to him, showed courage 34 years ago, under conditions of terror, to establish the party that defended the freedoms and rights of Albanians.

He recalled the sacrifices of the young people of Fier on February 20, who lost their lives in the struggle for change, emphasizing that their blood was never forgotten.

Berisha: Dear democrats of the city and district of Fier, a heartfelt greeting to all of you and the residents of this district.
A heartfelt greeting to the leaders of the DP, the political leader of the Fier district, Mr. Bardhi, the deputy of Fier, Luan Baçi, the mayor Rrapi Gjiko and all those present in this hall.
Today we are on an anniversary and it is normal to bow down with the greatest respect to all those citizens of this city, who 34 years ago, in conditions of strong terror, dared and signed for the creation of the DP, as a party of the denied fundamental rights and freedoms of man, as a party of the national interest of Albanians, a party of free initiative, a party of the integration of Albania into the EU and NATO.
I have a special respect today for all those young people of Fier, who on February 20 fell under the barrage of red terrorism. Their blood reddened Gjanica, but the democrats of Fier remained undefeated.
Dear friends, the founding of the DP 34 years ago was the founding of a political force of the noblest ideals of man, of forbidden ideals, of trampled values.
This political force has a heritage that makes every person proud.
Its heritage is the supreme truths of man, freedoms, rights, dignity, national interest.
The other political force has a history of crime and we cannot deny it. The carnage of class war weighs on it. Millennia of years of youth melted in concentration camps weigh on it. Thousands and thousands of lives lost in front of firing squads.
So, our heritage differs like night and day from the heritage of the other political force.
In 34 years of existence, we transformed Albania. From a place of total hypercollectivism, we transformed it into a place of free initiative of its citizens. From a country of complete isolation, Albania was integrated into the Council of Europe, NATO and opened up to the whole world.
From a country that in 1992 had the third lowest per capita income in the world, 234 dollars per capita. And when one day I told them that I became president with a salary of 16 dollars per month, a follower on social networks told me that Sala was wrong. I laughed because the truth is that he was right, he could not imagine what Albania was like in 1992.
But we transformed that reality. We managed to make the most poorly paid Albanians in 2008 come out on top in terms of salaries and pensions in all the countries of the region. And that was a big leap.
My friends, the Democratic Party in 2013 lost the elections and went into opposition, guaranteeing a fair electoral process.
But the man with the strongest ties to the crime of the past dictatorship and the crime of these years came to power.
After 2013, a narco-dictatorship was quickly installed in Albania, which opened a terrible black hole in this country every day, from which Albanians are leaving every day.
This regime removed more from Albania than any war, more than any natural disaster in any other country on the planet. And this removal took place in 10 years.
The DP also suffered great shocks in the last 3 years. Unjust, dishonest attempts were made against it to annihilate it, divide it, appoint its leader, de facto alienate it as a political force.
But, after a process at times and ordeal, today we are more united, stronger, more resilient than ever.
This is because we are people who unite in the truths we believe in. This is the main reason.
We are not guided by extremist ideology. We are guided by respect for human dignity, the investment and contribution of each person in this process. We never accept to trample on the contribution of others to our family.
We are guided by a major principle, tolerance. Here on February 20, when the hailstorms were taking young lives, the democrats did not kidnap, but the democrats stood and with their tolerance, crushed their efforts to create the republic of Vlora, as the Enverist forces were grouped.

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