At an event marking the 35th anniversary of the strike staged by Albania’s Independent Trade Unions, Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha said unions had become ‘the strongest shield of Albanian political pluralism.”

Berisha emphasized that the general strike of the Independent Trade Unions of Albania, led by Gëzim Kalaja, represented a pivotal moment of union and civic resistance. He commended the broad participation of workers during that period and highlighted the role of trade unions in the political developments of the time, describing the strike as a ‘historic battle’ that contributed significantly to the consolidation of political pluralism in the country.”

Berisha stated that two decisions of that period were of historic importance: the establishment of the opposition newspaper Rilindja Demokratike on December 18 and the creation of trade unions, which rapidly became the strongest and most unyielding shield of Albania’s newly born political pluralism of December 11. He emphasized that the unions, formed as a powerful movement, resolutely opposed the scenario devised by then‑leader Ramiz Alia, who had scheduled elections three months prior to formally accepting pluralism. Alia had designated February as the election month, at a time when the Democratic Party had scarcely been organized beyond Tirana and a few cities. ‘The unions did not accept Alia’s scenario,’ Berisha said.

Berisha recalled his countless encounters with Gëzim Kalaja, noting that even now, whenever he meets him, he vividly remembers Kalaja in the mine gallery, hundreds of meters underground, engaged in a hunger strike with his forehead bandaged, fighting like a lion alongside 17 colleagues—true heroes—in an effort to prevail. He described it as a ‘ battle like no other.’”

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