Albanian Opposition Leader Accuses EU Diplomats of Turning Jusice Reform Into a Mafia Project

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – Albania’s opposition leader Lulzim Basha has accused foreign EU diplomats of turning the ‘Vetting’ process of the small Balkan country’s Justice Reform into a mafia-style project to the benefit of prime minister Edi Rama, who is currently under pressure to resign.

Although Basha did not name the foreign officials, local media have hinted he was refering to the head of the EU Delegation in Tirana, Croatian Romana Vlahutin who has been quite controversial in her proximity to socialist PM Edi Rama during the reform process of Albania’s justice system.

“He (Rama) wants to capture the justice machine of Albania in order to protect his friends and crime. The Vetting process has turned into a mafia style project, where high level diplomats on Edi Rama’s payroll have been involved. They have also implicated and taken hostage EU experts and the time will soon come for them to be held democratically accountable at a relevant democratic institution such as the EU,” – said a visibly angry Basha to his DP militants today in Tirana.

Basha added that the opposition was in its rightful place to demand Rama’s resignation, arguing the DP has been too good hearted in its requests.

“We are in our rightful place to ask for his resignation and we have all been too good hearted. We have the right to not only ask for his resignation but also for his arrest, because of the destruction he has brought to our country,” – said Basha.

It is the first time an Albanian politician accuses and threatens foreign EU diplomats in Albania so openly, marking an escalation of the rhetorical language chosen by the Democratic Party.

Earlier on, another representative of the opposition block of Albania, Vangjel Dule who chairs the Greek minority party in the country says foreign diplomats are trying to influence internal politics of Albania in favor of the country’s prime minister Edi Rama.

“During our meetings with certain foreign diplomats in Tirana, I heard a cynical proposal and I couldn’t believe my ears. We were told by these foreign diplomats in the presence of 4-5 smaller opposition parties representatives that this may be a good opportunity for us to enter elections as in the absence of DP, we could get more mandates in parliament.” – said Dule who could not hide his dismay at what he had heard inside the protest tent in Tirana.

Accusations come as an International Monitoring Operation administered by the European Commission is filtering names to be placed on Vetting structures which will scan Albania’s judges and prosecutors. Out of 84 selected names by the country’s Ombudsman, the IMO vetoed 17 of them last week, sending back to the Ombudsman only 67 candidates which now have to be approved by a half crippled parliament.

While the opposition is boycotting parliament, justice reform is in deadlock, prompting prime minister Rama to point the finger at the Democratic Party who “refuses to come to parliament because they fear the vetting process”.

The European Union has conditioned membership talks for Albania on the implementation of justice reform and has warned that it does not support a parliamentary boycott.

“To be elected and not go to work, you get fired. If you are member of parliament, you may do as you please, but you have to work. You have to go to work, to parliament, especially to vote on Vetting. I don’t know of any MEPs who would support a parliamentary boycott. On the technical government, the country can do as it pleases, but I see no necessity,” said MEP Knut Fleckenstein who reports on Albania to the European Parliament.

“We are dissapointed that justice reform is not being implemented. The boycott and blocking of elections is not the way forward.” – added his co-rapporteur at the European Parliament Eduard Kukan who has a long history of cooperation with the democratic party.

However, serious concerns remain about the role of the head of EU in Tirana Romana Vlahutin who is reportedly known for her close relationship with PM Rama and his entourage. Vlahutin who has led work on justice reform together with US Ambassador to Albania Donald Lu, has also been under accusation for the purchase of a €1,6 million Euros luxury villa in Tirana with EU money at double the market rate.

The case is being reportedly being closely followed by OLAF the EU anti fraud body in Brussels who has declined to confirm allegations of an official investigation.