Political scientist Ermal Hasimja has revealed more details from the opposition meeting in support of their candidate, Florian Binaj.
In an interview with Vizion Plus, Hasimja said that the opposition meeting also discussed cooperation and division of labor between parties.
The political scientist expressed optimism about the opposition's cooperation, while underlining that five months ago no one would have believed that the opposition forces would be so united.
Until now we have been used to presenting you as a political analyst, but now we can say political activist. How do you evaluate today's meeting?
Hasimja: It was an initial meeting to express the readiness, to declare and announce the readiness of the opposition parties to cooperate in this joint project that they have the support of Florian Binaj. So, it was a first step, where each practically declares their support and the coordination work between the parties now begins. That's how I see it, at least, because anyway I was more of a spectator there, since it's not that I neither represent any party nor am I a political subject myself.
By actively participating in a political action, you certainly believe in the cause or purpose of this action. Do you believe, or to what extent do you believe, that the unification of the opposition works or will work?
Hasimja : So far it has turned out to be working. If we actually go back four, five months ago, no one thought that we would be at this kind of point where the entire opposition would practically unite. And I think that this is a great achievement and it is an achievement that was made possible precisely thanks to this idea of an independent candidate who would come from outside the political parties. This seems very positive to me, as long as all the opposition parties have the same political goal and objectives.
A few weeks ago, the Opportunity Party presented the idea of candidate Ermal Hasimja. Now, after a few weeks, what can you say, reflecting on why that political scheme didn't work?
Hasimja: It's not that it didn't work. It seems to me that it worked very well. Not in relation to my name, but to the names that were presented, namely Florian Binaj and three other names. It seems to me that there was, and it's difficult after talking about something when I was involved myself, that it seems like arrogance. Yes, I mean, there were very positive reactions to this type of process. There were positive reactions to the names that were presented, but above all to the idea that all the opposition parties could unite by receiving, in fact, not simply the support of each other in this project, in this competition, but by guaranteeing in a way also to the wavering or disappointed electorate that they also have their representative offered in this type of cooperation.
Ermal, now as an observer or as a political analyst, with what happened, with this suspension of the campaign on November 9th for Tirana. When do you believe, when do you think there will be elections for Tirana?
Hasimja: I don't know, because there are different versions. Now it is difficult to predict, especially since here even the decisions of the judiciary are prejudiced. I would not be surprised if we had elections in early November, nor in mid-December, nor even at the end of January. So it is completely unpredictable, unfortunately. It should be that in a country where the Constitution is respected, when other institutions also respect the Constitution, things should actually be completely predictable. However, in essence it does not matter that much, especially since both candidates are in a way known, they are not unknown to the public. The battle will take place. It already has its technical component. Of course, what all parties will propose, but perhaps more important than this is the issue of judging the character himself. It is not an ideal political situation. In an ideal situation, the programs should also be judged. But in this specific case, there will be a program, but it will most likely not be those that will receive the main attention, but the goodwill of one candidate and the other to govern Tirana will be judged above all. This will be the element that will tip the balance in one direction or the other.