The Theater of Braça, the "oppositionist" who does not cross the red line

Erion Braçe has chosen today to publicly explain why he voted in favor of the Territorial Reform , although just a few hours ago he had emerged as one of the most vocal opponents of the new map within the Socialist Party.

In a lengthy reaction, the socialist MP spoke about the pressure from socialist leader Edi Rama, party discipline, responsibility towards voters, and the way the prime minister exercises power.

But, after all the words, as was seen in parliament, Brace opposed the reform in statements, but supported it with a vote.

The MP explains his decision with the desire to remain in the Assembly and continue the work that, as he says, the citizens have entrusted to him.

He even adds that the mandate was given to him by the voters, not Edi Rama, and he considers Parliament the place where he should exercise this very duty.

" Being an MP is a job and the Parliament is my workplace for me. Edi Rama drew the lists and drew them as he wanted, in his style, the people gave me the job by voting. 25 thousand people, the first socialists among them, leftists and ordinary people in this city and not only, together with them, thought that I do this job and they all have the right to demand the job from me. I am here, in Tirana now.

Yes, I have an infinite moral obligation to all those who have given me this job over the years, to whom I have responded humbly, modestly, and with gratitude every day, where they reside and live, never missing them, protecting them every time, doing good, and changing lives for the better for most of them.

Never alone, but with them, with many friends and comrades of this path, of these governments especially, for them. I did it this time too, I emphasize without anyone asking me, until the work given by other people could be undone as such by that antidemocratic remodeling that relies on another antidemocratic model, "either vote, or you are outside this group" and that continues with "you can work with this government in this group, not outside it ", said Braçe among other things, without explaining that if the SP deputy was convinced that the new territorial division did not constitute a real reform, but only a change of the administrative map, why did he decide to vote for it?

Revolt after the green card was raised
Before the vote, Braçe had opposed the majority project, demanding that the reform start from the competencies, finances and autonomy of local government, and not simply from changing the boundaries of municipalities. He had described the pressure to vote according to the majority position as a deformation of democracy within the SP, however, when the moment of decision-making came in the Assembly, his card was raised in favor.

In his later reaction, Brace explains that he chose to remain in the parliamentary group to continue his work as an MP. He says that he does not want to leave the duties entrusted to him by his voters and that he intends to continue to be by their side.

But here begins the contradiction of his position, because if the mandate is a responsibility to the citizens, then the vote is one of the main means to fulfill that responsibility. The MP does not represent the voters only when he speaks for them, but also when he makes decisions that directly affect their interests.

If Brace considered the new map wrong, he could oppose it by vote, and this could put him in conflict with the leadership of the SP, but not automatically remove his parliamentary mandate. 

Thus, his argument about responsibility to voters clashes with the concrete decision he made in the Assembly. He wants to be seen as the MP who does not blindly obey Rama, but in voting for the reform, he aligned himself with the majority that approved it.

From strategic investments to the Mountains Package,
the issue of the vote on Territorial Reform is not the only one that can be used to call into question the contrast between Braça's critical profile and his parliamentary positions.

The Law on Strategic Investments, the amendments to the protected areas and the Mountain Package are initiatives that have sparked further debate. Critics have spoken about the impact on the territory, natural resources and how certain investors may benefit. Regarding the Mountain Package, the government argues that it aims to promote investments and the economy in mountainous areas, while opponents of the initiative have expressed concerns about who is hiding as the beneficiary and what its consequences will be.

For Braca, the issue is not only whether or not he spoke out against these initiatives, but also how he acted when they were voted on. If he supported laws that were later opposed for their consequences on the territory and public interest, then his position should be evaluated through concrete votes, not just through statements, because a deputy cannot seek to be evaluated only for the criticisms he makes, leaving in the shade the decisions he supports.

The oppositionist who does not cross the red line
In his reaction, Brace criticizes Rama for the concentration of power, for the way decisions are imposed within the SP and for the lack of will to transfer real competencies to local government. He asks the prime minister to take responsibility for his own mistakes, instead of blaming them only on other ministers and leaders.

And in the case of the Territorial Reform, Braçe chose to keep his job in line with the other socialists, while expressing his revolt against the way this line works after the voting had ended and when the wind had blown the words away. S.Gj-Politiko.al