Party for Justice, Integration and Unity

The Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (Albanian: Partia Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet, or PDIU) is a single-issue political party in Albania whose primary aim is the promotion of Cham national issues. The party focuses on highlighting national issues, including Kosovo recognition, Albanians in North Macedonia, Montenegro, Presevo Valley and especially the Cham issue.[2]

Party for Justice, Integration and Unity
Partia Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet
AbbreviationPDIU
LeaderShpëtim Idrizi
Honorary presidentTahir Muhedini
Founded1 March 2011 (2011-03-01)
Merger ofParty for Justice and Integration,
Party for Justice and Unity
HeadquartersPas Ish-Ekspozitës “Shqipëria Sot”, Tirana
NewspaperPërlindja e Shqipërisë
Youth wingKlubi i Patriotëve të Rinj
IdeologyCham issue[1]
Colours  Light blue
  Green
National Assembly
4 / 140
Municipality
0 / 61
Council Seats
26 / 1,613
Website
pdiu.al

Formation and leadership edit

It was formed as a union of the Party for Justice and Integration and the Party for Justice and Unity. Shpëtim Idrizi is its current chairman, while Tahir Muhedini is now the honorary president.

PDIU involvement in 2011 general registration edit

In early October 2011, the Albanian government announced that a census would be conducted throughout the country, which would tally the exact number of ethnic minorities for the first time after 1989.[3][4] However, after a proposal by the PDIU, the Albanian parliament changed the Census law, establishing a fine of $1,000 to every citizen that declares an ethnicity different from what was written down on his or her birth certificate. This applies even if the certificate was written during the communist era before 1989,[3][5][6][7] where ethnic minorities were pressured to renounce their minority status.[8][9]

Because of these developments, organizations that represent five minority groups in Albania decided unanimously to boycott the upcoming census.[5][6] On the other hand, the PDIU, claimed that this decision was a national victory, prohibiting that way a part of local citizens (according to PDIU also non-Greek) to register as Greeks.[10]

Local elections edit

The PDIU placed candidates in the following places:

Komuna Kalaja e Dodës - Zyber Lita
Njësia Bashkiake nr. 7 Tiranë - Krenar Alimehmeti
Bashkia Rrogozhinë - Ndriçim Dushku
Komuna Golem - Engjëll Murrizi
Bashkia Sukth - Sherif Fortuzi
Komuna Bubq, Krujë - Skënder Gjoni
Bashkia Librazhd - Shefki Çota
Komuna Kukri, Gramsh - Behar Kokla
Bashkia Patos - Dilaver Kamberaj
Komuna Markat - Ismail Myrtaj
Komuna Shushicë - Lulzim Petani

In the Albanian local elections, 2011 the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity won a total of 59,499 votes throughout the country, and won the Librazhd, Sukth, and Rrogozhinë municipalities, plus Markat and Shushicë communes.

2015 local elections edit

In 2015 local elections PJIU won in three municipalities: Peqin, Rrogozhine and Konispol.

Parliamentary representation edit

Election Votes % Seats +/– Government
2013 44,957 2.61
5 / 140
Coalition
2017 76,064 4.81
3 / 140
  2 External support
2021 Supported PD–AN Supported PD–AN
3 / 140
  0 Opposition

2013 election edit

PDIU joined the Alliance for Employment, Prosperity and Integration (Albanian: Aleanca për Punësim, Mirëqenie dhe Integrim) in the 2013 elections. The coalition was led by former Prime Minister Sali Berisha. PDIU got 44,957 votes, 2.61% translated in 4 seats in the new parliament.[11][1] Shpëtim Idrizi got elected as well, bringing the number of seats to 5, but he came through the list of Democratic Party in Fier County.[12]

  1. Aqif Rakipi for Elbasan County
  2. Dashamir Tahiri for Vlorë County
  3. Omer Mamo for Fier County
  4. Tahir Muhedini for Tiranë County
  5. Mesila Doda for Fier County (joined after leaving the Democratic Party)

2017 parliamentary elections edit

In 2017, PDIU won three mandates of deputies: 2 in Elbasan (Aqif Rakipi and Bujar Muca) and 1 in Diber (Reme Lala). Shpetim Idrizi and Mesila Doda published videos in Facebook that their votes were stolen from another party, so the votes in Tirana were recounted, but they couldn't get their mandates either.

2021 parliamentary elections edit

In 2021, PDIU joined the Coalition PD–AN[a] and won three mandates of deputies.

  1. Nusret Avdulla for Fier County
  2. Shpetim Idrizi for Tiranë County
  3. Mesila Doda for Tiranë County

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Alliance led by PD. The other members are PDIU, PR, PAA, LZHK, PDK, FRD, PBKD, PBDNJ, BLD, PBD, PLL, PKD

References edit

  1. ^ a b Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Albania". Parties and Elections in Europe.
  2. ^ "Programme" (in Albanian). PDIU. Archived from the original on 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2013-09-25. PDIU as a party focuses on National Issues.... We believe that the Albanian state should find a solution to the Cham issue...
  3. ^ a b "Με αποχή απαντά η μειονότητα στην επιχείρηση αφανισμού της". ethnos.gr. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  4. ^ Kosta Barjarba. "Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
  5. ^ a b "Αντιδρώντας στις μεθοδεύσεις Μπερίσα και Τσάμηδων Αλβανία: Μποϊκοτάρει την απογραφή η ελληνική μειονότητα". protothema.gr. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  6. ^ a b Τζιμα, Σταυρου. "Η ελληνική ομογένεια απέχει από την απογραφή στην Αλβανία". kathimerini. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Ανησυχίες της ελληνικής μειονότητας της Αλβανίας για την απογραφή πληθυσμού". enet.gr. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  8. ^ Bos, Roeland (1994). Mission report on the situation of the Greek minority in Albania. Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. p. 9. Retrieved 19 October 2013. Under the Hoxha regime gross violations of human rights were committed against all population groups in Albania. The Greek minority suffered especially from the religious persecution and the denial of their national and cultural identity.
  9. ^ Goldman, Minton F. (1990). The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe (3rd ed.). Guilford, Conn.: Dushkin Pub. Group. p. 95. ISBN 9780879678609. Religious persecution and political oppression did not abate under Ramiz Alia. The Alia regime also continued Hoxha's policy of forceful assimilation of non-Albanian-speaking minorities, in particular Greek-speaking Albanians.
  10. ^ Idrizi: Census is guaranteed, Top-Channel, 2011-02-10, retrieved 2013-10-18
  11. ^ Official results by Albanian CEC
  12. ^ Lista emërore e deputetëve të zgjedhur [List of elected representatives names] (in Albanian), Assembly of the Republic of Albania, archived from the original on 2015-09-24, retrieved 2013-10-18

External links edit