FROM CIVIL SOCIETY TO POLITICS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000351

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PREL AL
SUBJECT: FROM CIVIL SOCIETY TO POLITICS

REF: TIRANA 319

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN L. WITHERS, FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d).


1. (C) Summary: As reported reftel, several prominent civil
society actors are running for MP for the opposition
Socialist Party (SP). In separate conversations with two of
these activists, both bemoaned the partisan atmosphere, but
also seemed to be enjoying their new roles immensely. Both
candidates served in civil society for many years, but seem
to have made the transition to MP candidate easily, leading
some observers to maintain that their move into politics has
"proven" that all civil society actors are merely pawns of
the SP and not independent. Other critics have labeled the
most prominent civil society-to- parliament candidate little
more than window dressing to impress the international
community. For his part, SP Leader Edi Rama says the former
civil society candidates represent Rama's highly touted brand
of "new politics." Both candidates who spoke with Poloff are
virtually assured seats in the upcoming elections because of
their positions on the lists. Regardless of the criticism,
it is nice to see some new faces and ideas in a political
system where many actors just never seem to quite leave the
stage. End summary.


2. (C) On June 2, Poloff met with Eglantina Gjermanji, former
head of the Gender Development Alliance (GDA) NGO and a
current candidate for MP for the Socialist Party (SP) to
discuss her transition to politics. Gjermanji, a mother of
two, said that SP Party leader and Mayor of Tirana Edi Rama
called her in early May to ask her to run for MP with the SP.
Initially she declined, but later accepted. Once the lists
were published, she found herself in the 8th position in
Tirana, virtually assuring her a seat in parliament. (Note:
Of the 32 seats up for grabs in Tirana, the SP is assured of
getting at least 14, and perhaps more. End note.) Gjermanji
seemed excited about the prospect of becoming an MP but also
revealed some insecurities about her candidacy. She said she
believes that having civil society activists entering
politics is a turning point in Albania, and she sincerely
believes that now is the time for change.

3. (C) For Vasilika Hysi, the former head of the Albanian
Helsinki Commission (AHC),the transition to politics seemed
a bit smoother. As she launched into SP talking points in a
June 4 meeting with Poloff, she sounded a lot like SP
strategist Kastriot Islami. She went on to say that these
elections are the second to be organized by PM Sali Berisha
and current Deputy Minister of Interior Ferdinand Poni(the
first were in 1996) and these elections will likely be as bad
as those in 1996. While she too had some reservations about
joining politics, she has entered the fray with all of her
usual gusto. She campaigns non-stop and has already been
featured on television debates and had interviews published
in the local dailies. She indicated that issues do not
matter much to the populace; she has only been hearing that
the SP needs to ensure the right to vote for everyone.

4. (C) Interestingly, Hysi told Poloff that she is more
pessimistic about the political system now that she is
looking at it from the inside. She said that, being on the
outside looking in, she did not really understand completely
how it functioned. Now she does, and she is not pleased with
what she has found. She bemoaned the partisan atmosphere and
said no one in the DP is capable of a real debate. According
to Hysi, the entire DP strategy is to distract voters from
the issues. Named as the number one candidate on the SP list
for Tirana, Hysi is assured a seat in the new parliament.
(NOTE: Some critics have pointed at Hysi's SP candidacy as
little more than a publicity stunt aimed at the international
community, with whom Hysi is well-known and respected. These
critics doubt that Hysi will gain many votes for the SP, but
will build goodwill towards the opposition among the
internationals. END NOTE).

5. (C) Comment: It is too early to tell whether or not the
entry of several prominent civil society actors into politics
is a good trend. Some worry about civil society being
weakened by the loss of some of its most prominent figures.
SP leader Edi Rama, however, brushes aside such criticism and
claims it represents his brand of "new politics." Whether or
not their idealism and enthusiasm can continue or if they
will be beaten down by the poisonous, partisan politics is a
big question. Both women claim they will not change their
attitudes or their outspokenness as MPs, but incumbency and
party rules often trump other considerations. Some (mainly
in the DP) have also said that the fact that Gjermanji and
Hysi have joined the SP confirms that they really were hacks
for the SP all along and not "independent observers" as they
claimed to be when they criticized the GOA. Regardless, the
fresh faces and ideas are welcome in a system which has a lot
of people who just never seem to quite go away.

TIRANA 00000351 002 OF 002


WITHERS