Party for Justice, Integration and Unity
The Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (Albanian: Partia Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet, or PDIU) is a nationalist, right-wing political party in Albania whose primary aim is the promotion of national issues. The party focuses on highlighting national issues, including Kosovo, Albanians in North Macedonia, Montenegro, Presevo Valley and especially the Cham issue.[3]
Party for Justice, Integration and Unity Partia Drejtësi, Integrim dhe Unitet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Shpëtim Idrizi |
| Honorary president | Tahir Muhedini |
| Founded | March 1, 2011 |
| Merger of | Party for Justice and Integration (PDI), Party for Justice and Unity (PDU) |
| Headquarters | Tirana, Albania |
| Newspaper | Përlindja e Shqipërisë |
| Youth wing | Klubi i Patriotëve të Rinj |
| Ideology | Albanian nationalism Social conservatism Cham issue[1] |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| National Assembly | 3 / 140 [a]
|
| Municipality | 2 / 61
|
| Website | |
| www | |
a Additionally, Shpëtim Idrizi got elected through the list of Democratic Party in Fier County.[2] | |
Formation and leadership
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
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.[4][5] 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,[4][6][7][8] where ethnic minorities were pressured to renounce their minority status.[9][10]
Because of these developments, organizations that represent five minority groups in Albania decided unanimously to boycott the upcoming census.[6][7] 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.[11]
Local elections
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 Patos - Dilaver Kamberaj
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
In 2015 local elections PJIU won in three municipalities: Peqin, Rrogozhine and Konispol.
Parliamentary representation
| Year | % | Seats | Votes | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 2.61% | 5 / 140 | 44,957 | Coalition |
| 2017 | 4.81% | 3 / 140 | 76,064 | Government Supporter |
2013 election
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.[12][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.[2]
- Aqif Rakipi for Elbasan County
- Dashamir Tahiri for Vlorë County
- Omer Mamo for Fier County
- Tahir Muhedini for Tiranë County
- Mesila Doda for Fier County (joined after leaving the Democratic Party)
2017 parliamentary elections
In 2017, PJIU 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 stole from another party, so the votes in Tirana were recounted, but they couldn't get their mandates either.
See also
References
- Nordsieck, Wolfram (2017). "Albania". Parties and Elections in Europe.
- 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
- "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...
- "Με αποχή απαντά η μειονότητα στην επιχείρηση αφανισμού της". ethnos.gr. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- Kosta Barjarba. "Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-11-14. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- "Αντιδρώντας στις μεθοδεύσεις Μπερίσα και Τσάμηδων Αλβανία: Μποϊκοτάρει την απογραφή η ελληνική μειονότητα". protothema.gr. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- Τζιμα, Σταυρου. "Η ελληνική ομογένεια απέχει από την απογραφή στην Αλβανία". kathimerini. Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- "Ανησυχίες της ελληνικής μειονότητας της Αλβανίας για την απογραφή πληθυσμού". enet.gr. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
- 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.
- 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.
- Idrizi: Census is guaranteed, Top-Channel, 2011-02-10, retrieved 2013-10-18
- Official results by Albanian CEC