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OP-ED

Berisha and Rama: Long-term policies in front of the facade

Politiko 2022-08-30 16:04:03
Berisha and Rama: Long-term policies in front of the facade

Marcel Lela


As winter approaches, a big problem for Albanians is expected to be the further increase in the price of electricity. As in any of its wars, Russia is expected to use winter and energy as allies against the West, putting Europe in difficulty. However, Albania is in a slightly unfavorable position regarding this situation, considering that most of the energy is produced in the country, due to the construction of a number of HPPs. Although this does not seem to have had a positive impact on the pockets of Albanian consumers, the electricity bill, which has increased several times so far, is expected to swell even more. 

But what is noticeable in this situation is that the 'heroes' in the middle of this energy crisis are the small, non-public HPPs, which are producing more energy than their big state brothers. Specifically, during the first six months of this year, private HPPs have produced 54 percent of all energy produced in the country, saving the state about 200 million euros. 

The history of the construction of these HPPs started in 2007 as part of the implementation of the "Albania small regional superpower for renewable energy" strategy. From 2007 to 2013, contracts were signed to construct 423 small, medium, and large HPPs. But this strategy was vehemently opposed by the opposition of that time. Edi Rama called this another trick of Sali Berisha. Apparently, this "fraud" is producing a solution for Albania in the worst days of the energy crisis that Europe is facing. A solution that the government that has received the votes of the citizens has the duty to provide.

What started in the span of six years (2007-2013) as a strategy to exploit rich water resources in favor of local energy production, and was met with great opposition, today we see that it has been the foundation of a policy long term that is bearing fruit.

In the next confrontation, where Berisha returns as the main opposition, Edi Rama, although at the head of the government, is again politically inferior to the opponent. Able to produce a facade of jokes, concerts, and parades, but no long-term solutions and policies, Rama finds himself facing a Berisha who has no choice but to let his 'big works' policies fight him. 

Berisha returns as a Hamiltonian, a man of economic policies of great works and national interest, which have already given him the evidence. In front of him is a government that in the middle of an energy crisis, the only solution for citizens is advice to stay as long as possible in bars and wash clothes at 30 degrees; which brings to mind the leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, who ordered his subjects to go to the bathroom with a flashlight.

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