Shqip
Play with Crossword
FLASH NEWS

Germany, the "curse" of Rama and Berisha

2026-02-27 16:46:21 / EDITORIAL NGA BATO KOSOVA

Germany, the "curse" of Rama and Berisha

Although Albanians' attention has been constantly focused on the US and British approach to Albanian politics, Germany – less vocal but more decisive in decision-making – has had a direct role in political developments in Albania. It has maintained clear positions on both Edi Rama and Sali Berisha.

For the first, since the "Xibraka" file, there has been an investigation conducted by German authorities, the documentation of which is located in Germany. For the second, relations with important segments of German politics have been cold since 2012, when he was still prime minister.

Rama's language towards Germany

Edi Rama has hardened his tone towards Germany, accusing it of using SPAK to attack his government. In an attempt to protect Balluk at all costs, he is seeing hostile groups everywhere. But Rama knows well that Germany has many files on Tavûna, from Xibraka to the wiretapping of Sky ECC and Ecrochat. But a day ago, Rama was perhaps harsher than ever in his stance towards the Germans. According to sources at the meeting and according to several media outlets, Rama said that:

"The Germans are interfering in SPAK files, including the AKSHI file and the Porto Romano tender, where companies with an international reputation have been disqualified.
They are exploiting our weaknesses to hinder us."
So Germany is using its influence in SPAK and diplomatic channels to hit his government.
Germany has influenced several international media outlets to hit the government, especially in the Balluku and AKSHI cases.

Those who have followed Rama's political history have not been surprised by this confrontational approach in moments of international pressure.

Just a short while ago, the German foreign minister met only with Spiropal and SPAK in Tirana. A strong message for Rama and Berisha.

The “Xibraka” case

Operation "Xibraka" is one of the most spectacular actions of the German authorities on the territory of another country. German special forces came, neutralized many elements in the police, confiscated phones and took them to the crime scene. The full file of this case is in Germany and stands like a "hammer" over Rama's head, who tries in every way to close it, even traveling through villages in Germany, but without success.

Germany has long placed 15 conditions on Rama's table for the path to Europe, conditions that have not only not been met, but some have even worsened.

The 15 conditions of the Bundestag

In 2019, the German Bundestag decided to conditionally open negotiations for Albania, setting out 15 requirements that had to be met before further progress in the integration process could be made. These include:

The functioning of the Constitutional Court.
The functioning of the Supreme Court.
The implementation of the justice reform.
The completion of the vetting process.
Effective fight against corruption at high levels.
Effective fight against organized crime.
Electoral reform according to OSCE/ODIHR recommendations.
Investigation and punishment of electoral crimes.
Guarantee of media freedom.
Reform in public administration.
Resolution of property issues.
Fight against money laundering.
Measures against drug cultivation and trafficking.
Transparency in the financing of political parties.
Measurable and sustainable progress in all these areas.

The Bundestag's decision is an official document and has been a condition for the progress of Albania's negotiations with the EU. Germany has had a decisive role in this process, due to its political weight in the European Union.

Edi Rama knows that it is not France or the Netherlands, but Germany that decides about Albania in the EU and the country's relations with the European Union.

Attitude towards Berisha

The statement by the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, David McAllister, a German MEP and important figure of the CDU, that we will not meet with Berisha once again shocked the DP, isolated by the Americans and the British.

The Germans' rejection of Berisha began in 2012, when he was Prime Minister. But with Basha at the helm of the DP, this was not noticeable, as the relations between them were close.

During the civil war that Berisha started in the DP, to avoid bloodshed which was seen to be not far off after Berisha's attack on the DP that shocked the whole world and convinced that Berisha would lose the elections, the Germans gave him an opportunity, but on the condition that he would leave the leadership of the DP. The Germans had also received this guarantee from some of Berisha's collaborators, such as Tabaku, Bardhi, Këllici, etc.

But this guarantee was given by Berisha and some of the German MPs who, even though they publicly demanded Berisha's departure, gave him a chance to leave "without a fight."

But this did not happen. Berisha is doing everything to keep the DP in his clutches, and why it is becoming smaller and less important every day.

For this, not only did David McAllister refuse to meet Berisha, but he was not even invited to the CDU congress held in February.

Frustrated by the justice system that continues to hold the DP's seal hostage in the high court, marking a dangerous precedent for the country mired in crime and corruption, the Germans have begun to react against Rama and Berisha as a bloc.

While the Americans have blacklisted Rama and Berisha, the Germans are openly pointing their finger at them in Europe as Albania's biggest problem./ Alfapress.al

Happening now...

Want to read more news

ideas

top

Alfa recipes

TRENDING

services

  • POLICE129
  • STREET POLICE126
  • AMBULANCE112
  • FIREFIGHTER128