In the early hours of the day, Sali Berisha spoke in strong tones in support of the KLA leaders, but at the same time accused Edi Rama of “using the cause for political purposes”. His statement, given during the press conference, was immediately interpreted as a signal for the Democratic Party to distance itself from the rally organized in Tirana. And the facts on the ground reinforced this impression: apart from Bujar Leskaj and Besart Xhaferaj, no other Democratic MP was seen at the protest.
In his speech, Berisha declared that he had seen “absolutely no facts to prove any of the accusations against the former war leaders and political leaders of Kosovo,” calling the process in The Hague unfair. “I sincerely hope that that court will declare their innocence and their return to their country,” he said.
But the former prime minister accused Prime Minister Edi Rama of trying to politically benefit from the protests:
"The use of the process for political purposes is macabre. Edi Rama withdrew, but I have here the evidence that he was expected to speak for over an hour. Do you understand? A man who, with his actions, is as much an enemy to Kosovo as Aleksandar Vučić, would become a patriot," Berisha said.
This afternoon, the Democratic Party released an official response categorically denying the existence of any order to boycott the rally. In a statement distributed to the media, the press office emphasized:
"The Democratic Party has not given any order, verbal or written, that its representatives or supporters should not be at the rally in support of the former KLA leaders. The banal speculation by some media that this order exists is part of Ramaduro's anti-opposition scenario."
Essentially, the course of the day left behind a visible confusion in the blue headquarters. On the one hand, Berisha described the rally as manipulated by Rama, giving a signal to the deputies not to expose themselves politically; on the other hand, spokesman Alfred Lela was forced to "soften" the message by clarifying that the DP had not given any order for a boycott.
The practical result? A minimal presence of opposition representatives at a protest that under any other circumstances would have been a natural cause for the Democratic Party.
