On Thursday, Agron Shehaj, a Member of Parliament and founder of the newly established political party “Mundësia,” was expelled from a plenary session after blocking the podium for several minutes. The move came after Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali, representing the Socialist Party, had allocated the floor to Sali Berisha, leader of the Democratic Party and an individual declared persona non grata by both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Spiropali’s response to Shehaj’s defiance was both condescending and revealing. “Unblock the podium! Leave the podium; the floor belongs to Sali Berisha. I understand that as a new party, you want to replace the old guard, but do it with words, not by blocking the podium. If it’s about blocking podiums for revolution, they surpass you—they have more experience,” she remarked before officially expelling Shehaj under parliamentary rules.
The incident, while seemingly minor, serves as a microcosm of Albania’s deeply entrenched political dysfunction. For 34 years following the fall of communism in 1990, the country has been ruled by the duopoly of the Socialist Party (PS) and the Democratic Party (PD). This grip on power has not only stalled meaningful progress but has also entrenched a system rife with corruption, nepotism, and criminality. According to multiple reports and public sentiment, Albania remains one of Europe’s most corrupt and crime-infested nations, with governance dominated by shadowy alliances and backdoor deals.
The political establishment’s hostility towards smaller parties like “Mundësia” underscores a deeper issue: the deliberate marginalization of alternative voices. The electoral code, jointly approved by PS and PD, is tailored to cement the dominance of large parties, effectively sidelining new and smaller political movements. This concentration of power perpetuates the status quo, where figures like Prime Minister Edi Rama and Sali Berisha continue to dominate the political stage, often appearing more like collaborators than opponents.
The expulsion of Agron Shehaj is not just an attack on a single MP but a chilling reminder of the lengths to which the political elite will go to stifle dissent and maintain control. Spiropali’s words, dripping with irony, reflect the arrogance of a political class that has long outstayed its welcome. While Shehaj’s actions may have been unconventional, they highlight a growing frustration among ordinary Albanians who see their hopes for change crushed by a system designed to serve the few at the expense of the many.
Albania deserves better than the perpetual theatrics of PS and PD. The time has come for the country to break free from the stranglehold of these two parties and embrace genuine democratic reform. Until then, incidents like Shehaj’s exclusion will remain symbolic of a broken system where the voices of change are silenced, and the old guard clings to power by any means necessary.