Ilir Meta and his survival history. How SMI grew into a kingmaker

With the 100.000 votes received in the elections of 2005, the SMI of Ilir Meta was seen as a divisive fraction for the left center, and as responsible for bringing Sali Berisha back to power.

This was not the first time they were accused about this. In the elections of 2007, Ilir Meta and Edi Rama managed a fragile agreement for unifying the left center, but it was terminated in 2008, when the two bigger parties amended the Constitution and the Electoral System unilaterally. Their purpose was to reestablish political hegemony and remove smaller parties from the scene.

Many think that this was the most difficult time for Ilir Meta and his new party, which determined his survival in politics.

Before the elections of 2009, a small coalition outside the Socialist Party, and with all the political and electoral system against him, the promise made by Ilir Meta seemed too big.

With almost 25.000 votes less than in 2005, the objective seemed unreachable. But, four Parliament seats resulted to be enough to keep Sali Berisha in power once again.

The four seats were decisive to determine the growth of the SMI, a growth that was confirmed with the local elections of 2011, a few months after Ilir Meta resigned from the government of Sali Berisha.

This growth gave Lulzim Basha a victory for the Municipality of Tirana, which convinced Edi Rama definitely to reunite the left once again, and not because of love.

The elections of 2013 gave Ilir Meta 180.000 votes and enough MPs to create a majority of 83 members. Edi Rama enlarged the coalition with the PJIU, which was in opposition, a party that is starting to look each day more like the SMI. But will they put Ilir Meta’s kingmaking power at risk?

During this young history of his party, the SMI has been characterized by instinct, survival and creativity. In this anniversary, he must have found the right medicine for the new friendship of two old acquaintances.

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