"The will of the people" and the irony of ordered resignations

Elections are said to be the most democratic moment in a society. It is the moment when citizens have something in their hands that no other power controls: the vote. But how much is that vote worth in a system where ranking on lists and behind-the-scenes moves can turn the outcome upside down, even when the numbers say otherwise?

The case of Fier, where Socialist Party candidate Maldrita Bardho gave up her mandate as soon as she emerged victorious in the recount, has brought to the fore the debate about the real representation of citizens in the Assembly.

Bardho emerged victorious with a narrow margin of 10 votes over Zegjine Çaushi, who had initially been in a favored position.

From the recount of votes, 48 ​​votes were taken away from Çaushi, which according to KAS were excessive, while Maldrita Bardho regained 26 votes from the recount, which had been taken away from her during the counting process.

Thus, after the recount, Bardho collected 4,636 votes in total, while Caushi collected 4,626 votes.

Billed as a "dignified" act, her resignation highlights a silent truth of the current system: that the vote of citizens counts, but only if it is in line with the will of the party.

But unlike what one would naturally expect from a winner, Bardho decided to withdraw. In a reaction on social media, she declared that she would not take the mandate and that she would give way to Zegjine, who according to her "deserves more to be in the Assembly."

" After carefully following the vote recount for the Fier region, I feel happy and honored that my long contribution to the Socialist Party has been appreciated by my fellow citizens and they have considered me worthy of representing them in the Albanian parliament."

However, I have made an important decision, which I would like to share with everyone, a decision that I made before the recount began and which was finally reinforced for me today.

I will continue to contribute to the Socialist Party and to Lushnje, with all my abilities, but without being part of the Albanian parliament.

I will gladly leave my seat to my colleague and friend, Zegjine Çaushi, a Zegjine who has perhaps fought more for the team than for herself this campaign, putting herself at the target of undeserved attacks from old politics, from the politics of filth that is afraid of new voices, a Zegjine from whom I am only 10 votes away today and who undoubtedly deserves to be in the Assembly hall, to represent the youth, especially girls.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I will be there for all of you who voted for me, with the same enthusiasm and strength that only we socialists have!"

In the absence of an official statement from the Socialist Party, it is unknown whether Bardho acted entirely on personal initiative or in a context of internal political pressure.

But one fact is known for sure: citizens voted (even if the votes were manipulated). And when a candidate who emerges victorious withdraws without a clear legal or health reason, a precedent is created that the vote is no longer the citizen's, but manageable by the structures.

Bardho's resignation can be interpreted as an honest personal act, but the essential question cannot be hidden behind it:

If the citizens voted for you and you won, what justifies leaving? And above all, who has the right to make such a surrender on behalf of the voters?

The will of the people, only when it benefits us

This is not the first time that the term “the will of the people” has been used as an excuse and sidestepped. Albanian politicians refer to it in solemn tones when they win, but fall silent when the will of the people itself conflicts with the party’s interest or plan.

If the citizens of Fier voted for Bardho and she emerged victorious, then any move that shifts the mandate to someone else, regardless of name or perceived merit, is a move to the detriment of representation.

 And another reminder that in this system, citizens are often just spectators in a game that they have no way of changing, even when they vote correctly.

Democracy is more than a numbers race, it is a trust that should not be betrayed with strange resignations and undisputed rotations.

 Was this the will of the people, or the will of the party that manages the list as its property?