"Drenta Sali," "Habri Sera": A Reflection on Political Theater and the State of Governance
September 11, 2024
Our catchy Tumba music has rhythms and refrains that stick in your mind—like "drenta sali" (in and out) and "habri sera" (open and close). Right now, I find myself reflecting on these phrases, because that’s exactly how it feels in our political landscape.
Yesterday, September 10, 2024, marked the opening of the new parliamentary year. The day before, the previous session officially closed. What stuck with me from that closing session was the announcement that 22 bills had been handled. But what stood out was when the Speaker, at the end of her official closing speech, took the time to say something nice about each of her members individually. It felt like a kindergarten teacher bidding farewell to her students before summer break, knowing they had moved on to another class the following year. As the moment unfolded, I wondered if Parliament itself was not revealing itself as a kindergarten of sorts.
The opening, as usual, was a ceremonial affair. The Governor read the speech prepared by the cabinet, and honestly, it did not hold my attention. Maybe it is my age, but the predictable promises for the new year—the nods to sustainability and care for nature—left me unenthused. Then came the usual laundry list from the ministries: strengthening the civil service and introducing driving exams for automatic vehicles. That is when I tuned out.
The actual "drenta sali" is the political shuffling—who is being pushed out of the coalition and who is being brought in. That drama played out last week, but on Monday, under pressure from the Governor, an addendum was signed, and now we wait for the screening of the new ministers. Meanwhile, appointments of their staff are already underway.
Last night, we also saw the much-anticipated presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Naturally, the big question voters are asking: who won? As always, the answer depends on which channel you are watching. In the past few decades, every network has adopted a political slant. What stood out was a focus group of undecided voters, with some giving a slight edge to Harris. But ultimately, we must all make our judgments. Harris did not deliver a knockout blow to Trump, but I think Trump had a solid round for his base.
Even in the U.S., the political arena is not what it used to be. Populism is everywhere, and we have shifted from reason to emotion. The level of discourse has degraded on a global scale.
Miguel Goede
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