Presidential Election: Is the DP a Muslim party?

Politiko.al

As a note from Politiko.al states, only 17 percent of the democratic membership in the Municipality of Korça voted for Lulzim Basha in his third race for party chairman. In contrast, in the other two municipalities of the region, Maliq and Devoll, the figures were over 57 and 78 percent in favor of Basha.

In addition to other implications, which are mainly political, in this case, one should be noted that relates to religious balances. Devoll is dominated by Muslims, while Maliqi is almost entirely Muhammadan. Korça on the other hand has almost a balance between the two communities, the Orthodox and the Muslim.

In these religious differences, the change in consent for Basha and his management team in the Korça region should be observed. Also for the fact that Ervin Salianji and Edmond Spaho are Muslims from the 'suburbs', one from the villages of Maliq and the other from Devolli.

Korça, according to all connoisseurs of political and social balances, is very sensitive, and, always by the party leaders in Tirana, care has been taken that the delicate balance is considered and maintained.

Basha did not have this consideration and his insistence on representing the Muslim element, as in the case of Spaho-Salianji has given effects, not only in the internal party vote but also in the parliamentary elections. If in Devoll and Maliq Basha and his emissaries are liked, in Korça they are rejected.

This, of course, is also related to the fact that the city of Korça requires a civic representation and Basha's two envoys are considered 'provincial' in the city.

But this is not the only imbalance in the ranks of the DP. It was one of the candidates for party chairman, Edit Harxhi, who in the show PolitikOn on RTV Ora noted the fact that there was no Catholic in Basha's list for Tirana, except for Aldo Bumçi in the 17th place, a non-winning position. Two places below was another Christian, of the Orthodox faith, Ivi Kaso, also in a non-profit position.

The dominance of the Muslim element in the Democratic Party was emphasized even in the newly concluded race for mayor. The four candidates Lulzim Basha, Agron Shehaj, Edit Harxhi, and Fatbadh Kadilli are of the Muhammadan faith.

The Democratic Party does not classically belong to this tradition. Remember the almost surgical care of Sali Berisha to have the orthodox Leka Meksi at the head of the government and the Catholic Pjetër Arbnori at the head of the parliament. Jozefina Topalli in Berisha's book stood high among others even though she represented the powerful Catholic community of the North.

Berisha did nothing but care that was actually founded by the Muhammadan Ahmet Zogu who always had in the high structures of his Catholic and Orthodox state. The balance was disturbed by the communist government of Enver Hoxha, which excluded the Orthodox and especially the Catholics from running the country.

With Basha coming to the helm of the PD, although he has not yet enjoyed executive power to make religious divisions of posts, this balance has been upset.

All the top leaders picked by Basha in the DP are of the Muslim faith (remove the vice president Paloka left from Berisha's time). 

An alarming trend was observed especially during the last campaign when Basha's communication team included in total percentage elements of the Muslim faith and some of the people who propagate Islamic ideas in society.

Without the need to mention names, policy observers know who this is about.