Albania Coalition Tensions Rise – Justice Minister warns of autocracy and dictatorship if elections held without opposition

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – Albania’s minister of justice and junior partner LSI vice chair Petrit Vasili has warned today that Albania risks sliding into autocracy and dictatorship if Prime Minister Edi Rama’s socialists decide to enter elections without the opposition.

During a TV interview at News24, Vasili said that Rama’s choice to go to June 18 general elections without the opposition could slide the country into an autocratic regime which would hamper “stability, economic growth and justice reform”.

In a fresh escalation of tensions between governing coalition partners, Vasili added that the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) is a left leaning political party but now the country does not have to choose between left and right, but between democracy and dictatorship, pointing out that “PM Rama speaks softly in favor of dialogue, and loud when speaking of conflict”.

Only two days ahead of an electoral registration deadline, the new justice minister suggested that his political party could not comprehend a football field where only one team is playing, referring to the prime minister’s statements that the ruling socialists would go it alone if the opposition democrats refuse to return to parliament and enter elections.

“Elections are more at risk than ever. Without a solution we cannot have economic growth, nor justice reform. The statement of Speaker Meta was done in order to prevent such phenomenon. He called for political maturity,” – said Mr. Vasili referring to LSI’s chair Ilir Meta who earlier in the week called for a ‘government of trust’ and offered his party’s political mandates, including the Speaker’s, available for a solution if needed for a way out of crisis.

“We stand for the continuation of the coalition if the coalition gains meaning from free and fair elections accepted by all. No other option would be credible or legitimate, but it would only recycle the same political crisis we are accustomed to. The PM’s rhetoric is damaging and shows a unnecessary conflictual protagonism. The prime minister has a passion for conflict, but at this time we need to keep calm. There is increasing distrust on upcoming elections. The LSI is ready to sacrifice for a solution.” – concluded Mr. Vasili who is Mr. Meta’s closest political ally within the LSI.

The latest statements from the LSI come as Tirana Echo reported that both majority and opposition have yet to sit down to negotiate an agreement to get Albania out of the political deadlock which has paralyzed the country for more than 50 days and put its European integration process at risk.

Albania’s political life has been crippled by a parliamentary boycott of its opposition democrats while within a matter of weeks, the small Balkan country is expected to vote on crucial names for its reformed justice system, elect a new president and hold general parliamentary elections on June 18.

The European Union has conditioned the opening of membership accession talks on the implementation of its crucial justice reform and on the standards of general elections according to OSCE-ODIHR recommendations.