From Dhërmi, where he is spending his summer vacation, Prime Minister Edi Rama has chosen to explain to Albanians the meaning of the new political document "BESA", which he presents as the foundation of a new relationship between the government and citizens.
According to Rama, "BESA" stands for Trust, Empathy, Service and Commitment. An acrostic that, according to him, should mark a new way of governance after the protests known as the "Flamingo Protests".
But this is precisely where the paradox arises.
After more than a decade in power, it’s hard not to wonder whether the government’s problem was the lack of a four-letter document, or the lack of citizen trust. After all, “Besa” is not a slogan to be proclaimed on Facebook. It is a promise to be proven by action.
If "B" is for Trust, then the test is not how the prime minister explains it, but how much trust citizens still have in the government.
If "E" is for Empathy – or, to put it in Albanian, empathy – then memory leads to dozens of protests, clashes, and civic grievances, which have often been met with arrogance or ignored.
If “S” is for Service, it remains to be seen whether citizens will feel this in everyday life and not just in strategic documents.
And if “A” is for Engagement, then it will be measured by transparency and accountability, not acronyms.
Rama himself says that the first test of "BESA" will be the Zvërnec project, where hearings, publication of documents, and a reassessment of the project are promised within 90 days.
Perhaps it will be understood right there whether "BESA" is a true turning point in the government's relationship with citizens, or simply a new name for an old way of governing.
As for “Empathy”… perhaps a prime minister who often lectures on Albanian could have chosen the word “sensitivity.” But this remains a minor detail in relation to the much larger question: can trust be restored with an acrostic?
