"Either with us or against us", how the Rama-Spiropali clash turned into a political ultimatum

What happened?

The Socialist Party group meeting the day before was accompanied by strong tensions between Prime Minister Rama and former Minister Elisa Spiropali.

The leader of the Socialists has openly threatened Spiropali after her reactions on social media and accusations against Rama. The latter has been harsh with the former minister, warning her not to make any more criticisms on social media, otherwise she will be sanctioned with expulsion from the group.

context

Rama's threat comes after the clashes that the pair had after Spiropali's dismissal from the post of Foreign Minister and her absence from the session when the majority rejected the Special Prosecution's request for the arrest of Belinda Balluku in the Assembly. Spiropali has attacked Rama with Facebook statuses openly expressing her dissatisfaction, reservations and even accusing him of turning the party into a "dictatorship".

Boycott of the session for Balluk in the Assembly

In the March 12 session, the majority rejected SPAK's request for the arrest of former Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by 81 votes. Elisa Spiropali, Fatmir Xhafaj and Blendi Gonxhja were not present in the hall at the time of the vote on the Special Prosecution's request.

Rama's reaction

Asked by journalists about the 'boycott' of the three socialists, including Spiropali, the prime minister addressed the task of explaining to Taulant Balla.

"As for the presence in the vote, I don't deal with this matter. It is the group leader, it is his duty to listen and understand the reasons for the absences ," said Rama.

Later, the exact opposite would be proven, as Rama himself would openly express his dissatisfaction and revolt over Elisa Spiropali's boycott of the session on Balluk.

Downloading Spiropal

Rama announced a wave of dismissals, among which was Elisa Spiropali. The Prime Minister dismissed Spiropali from the post of Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs just 8 months after her appointment, replacing her with Ferit Hoxha.

Spiropal's reaction after discharge

For the first time after her dismissal as Foreign Minister, Elisa Spiropali reacted with a status on Facebook, forwarding coded messages. Through a long post, Spiropali expressed that when functions are closed with a decision, responsibility continues with conscience because according to her, politics is a territory where time moves quickly, but memory moves slowly.

“Vendimet politike janë pjesë e një vizioni më të gjerë dhe si të tilla respektohen, por historia personale e secilit prej nesh nuk matet me kohëzgjatjen e një mandati, as me fuqinë e përkohshme politike, por me gjurmën që lë në kulturën politike dhe morale të vendit. Forca e një projekti politik matet nga aftësia për të prodhuar modele që qëndrojnë edhe kur rrethanat ndryshojnë, sepse modelet nuk rrëzohen me dekrete, ato provohen me kohën.  Shqipëria është më e rëndësishme se çdo rol dhe Partia është më e rëndësishme se çdo individ, por dinjiteti personal mbetet themeli mbi të cilin ndërtohet çdo shërbim publik i ndershëm dhe i qëndrueshëm“, Spiropali një ditë pas shkarkimit nga posti i ministres.

Përplasja Rama-Spiropali në mbledhjen e grupit

Përplasja mes dyshes Rama-Spiropali u shënua në një mbledhje të grupit të PS me kabinetin qeveritar, ku fillimisht pati një tension mes ministres Erjona Ismailit dhe Elisa Spiropalit.

Kur ministrja për Marrëdhëniet me Parlamentin ishte duke folur për strategjinë e komunikimit, Elisa Spiropali, tashmë ish-ministre e këtij dikasteri ka nisur të qeshë. Ky gjest i saj është parë nga ministrja Ismaili, e cila i është drejtuar me fjalët, “zonja Spiropali s’ke pse qesh”. Ish-ministrja e Jashtme i është përgjigjur me fjalën “urdhëro?”.

Spiropali mësohet se i ka thënë ministres Ismaili t’i kërkojë falje. Të Rama i është drejtuar Spiropalit me fjalët: “Ti mos e hap gojën fare, fare. Ti një herë mos fol fare, të paktën në prezencën time. Nuk ndërhyn dot tek sa po flet Erjona”. Përplasja mes ministres dhe ish-ministres nuk ka mbaruar me kaq, pasi Spiropali ka këmbëngulur në kërkimin ndjesë nga Ismaili. Në këtë moment ka ndërhyrë sërish kryeministri Rama, i cili i është drejtuar Spiropalit me fjalët: “mos më provoko të të nxjerr përjashta”.

Reagimi i Spiropalit pas përplasjes

Pak ditë pas përplasjes së fortë me kryeministrin Rama në mbledhjen e grupit, erdhi edhe reagimi i Spiropalit. Përmes një postimi, ajo theksoi se heshtja nuk duhet interpretuar si mungesë reagimi, por si një zgjedhje për të reflektuar.

“Heshtja ime nuk është mungesë përgjigjeje, është një kufi mes asaj që duhet thënë dhe asaj që duhet kuptuar”, shkruan ajo.

Spiropali e cilësoi situatën jo thjesht si çështje personale, por si shenjë të një modeli që, sipas saj, po përhapet në politikë dhe shoqëri, ku “arroganca dhe abuzimi nuk paraqiten më si devijime, por si forma të pranueshme”.

Madje, ajo shprehu hapur shqetësimin se meritokracia po zëvendësohet nga bindja dhe përshtatja, duke theksuar se “politika po zhvendoset nga konkurrenca e ideve drejt një strukture të mbyllur, ku rëndësi ka sa përshtatesh, jo sa vlen”.

"Victory is not taken, it is proven. It is earned when people believe in you out of conviction, not out of fear ," Spiropali concludes, implying that her reaction goes beyond an individual clash and reflects on the way the political system functions.

Attacks and accusations against Rama

The former minister reacted again with a long message critical of Edi Rama's governing model. In her reaction, Spiropali stated that she had been asked to remain silent in the face of the attacks that had been addressed to her (referring to the clashes with Rama). Spiropali even raised her voice against what she called "instruments of pressure" or "extensions of the will of a few people."

According to her, a model based on personal influences and not on legal functioning is emerging in the administration, describing this as a gradual deformation of the system that Rama has installed.

"When state structures appointed, promoted and controlled by the same hand, now informal, preceded by portals paid for with dark money, begin to brutally attack even family members, in their work, then it is clearly understood that the limits have been crossed, and that it is no longer about politics," the former minister says.

She indirectly accused Rama of transforming the SP into a governing model where everything is directed by his hands.

"A living party is being replaced by a fossil structure where everything is filtered through occult appointments. 'Directorocracy' has returned to its mode of operation. It has replaced politics with loyalty administration,"  writes Spiropali.

Rama's threats

The meeting of the SP parliamentary group the day before, held behind closed doors at the Brigades Palace and with the participation of ministers, was the finalization with threats of a strong clash that has disturbed the climate within the SP.

Rama openly threatened Elisa Spiropali that if she continues to criticize the Socialist Party, she will be directly expelled from the group. "The first time, you didn't vote, the second time, you criticized on Facebook, the third time you will leave the SP group. I don't want drama in the SP, such situations should not be created. Either with us or against us ," Rama stated firmly.

These threats seem to be a clear warning that anyone who criticizes Rama's governing model has two options: silence or exclusion./ Politiko.al