The end of the era of 'Kavaja lodges'

Lutfi Dervishi

The expression "Kavaje loggia" is synonymous with empty words, gossip, and "harvest and don't tie" conversations that lead nowhere.

For years and years, unfortunately, the "media debate" competed and won with the "logs of Kavaja".

The “shows” were reduced to a propaganda arena against anti-propaganda. The studio was 99% discussing the opposition and 1% the government! “Non grata, internal strife, the seal and the past” – the favorite food on the TV dinner menu. So much space on the screen was taken up by opposition figures that the impression was created that it was the opposition that was misgoverning the country. Meanwhile, the government closed itself in the “ivory tower” and abandoned the “media cauldrons”.

The news packaged by the public relations offices was filled with site inspections, inaugurations of the first phase, the second segment, the third stage,… staged posts on Facebook and competitions to see which minister had received the most likes. The argument that sealed the debate about the “seal” was always the same: “compared to 2013?” or “is there no alternative?”

But, while virtual life went from one success to another, real life was throwing problems at him, and sooner or later, the problem had to come to an end.

 
The flamingo protest changed the focus of the debate. For the first time in a long time, the focus of the discourse is no longer on "logs," but on everyday problems.

Today, the talk is about the environment, public property and accountability; about corruption and impunity; about the price of food, water, fuel, rent and housing; about wages, pensions and taxes; about “free healthcare” and the results of the PISA test. In short, the “debate” has descended from the divine heights of propaganda directly to people’s refrigerators, wallets and daily lives.

Hundreds of thousands of hours of broadcasts and thousands of comments have been spent trying to keep the "Leaning Tower of Pisa" from collapsing. Now the debate is concrete, down to the foundations and roof of the house.

Perhaps that's why we're seeing more and more ministers and members of the majority party appear on television to defend their "achievements." I don't believe they appear because they've suddenly awakened the desire for debate.

This is perhaps the most important change that the people's reaction is bringing. It is reminding citizens of a simple truth: the government does not have its own money. Every road, every concession, every tender, every concert and every public service is financed only by taxpayers' money! So there is no reason why we should sing songs about the leader and the party on every segment of the road. It is enough that the song and the tam-tams are replaced with a sign: "This work was built with taxpayers' money."

Taxes are not only paid by big businesses. Every citizen pays them, every time they buy bread, milk or medicine through VAT. And VAT is 20%! So the question is no longer whether work is being done – the question is how our money is being managed. And maybe future campaigns will no longer focus on the big topics “EU, NATO, summits”, but on the cost of living, waste management or the environment.

Perhaps this is truly the beginning of the end of the era of "Kavaja lodges." Because when the debate touches the pocketbook, the government's propaganda suit fits very tightly.