Albanian PM Rama defiant – No resignation, No Mandates to Give Up, No Postponing of Elections

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – Minutes after its parliamentary group meeting this afternoon, Albania’s socialist PM Edi Rama has firmly said it does not intend to resign while vowing to stick to June 18 election date.

As the deadline for electoral registration of political parties runs out tonight at midnight, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama convened the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party to clarify the official position of the ruling party ahead of tonight’s crucial deadline for political parties to register as electoral subjects at the Central Elections Commission.

Rama said to journalists after the meeting that he will not do the same as his junior governing partner Ilir Meta who had earlier declared that his political party the LSI was ready to give up its political mandates in favor of a solution to the political crisis which has crippled the country for more than 50 days.

“I consider the government to be a responsibility, not a privilege. We will not give up our mandates as long as we have been mandated by the people to exercise such responsibility.” – said Rama minutes ago.

Albania’s PM Rama has been under mounting pressure to resign, as the country’s opposition parties demand the creation of a technical government which will ensure free and fair elections in June 18.

However, Rama has refused to bow down to the opposition’s request insisting that general elections will not be postponed.

“We can talk to the opposition without conditions. Elections belong to the people not to political parties Politicians may register to run, or may choose not to run for elections but they cannot ask the people not to judge,” – said a defiant Rama after its parliamentary group meeting.

Earlier this morning, all opposition parties confirmed their decision to boycott elections, until the prime minister has resigned.

Opposition leader Lulzim Basha is holding his breath and hopes Rama’s junior ally Ilir Meta who serves as Speaker of Parliament will force the prime minister to step down or accept a middle ground political solution which will enable opposition democrats to go back to parliament.

Rumors this morning in Tirana indicate a possible resignation of Meta himself from the position of Speaker of Parliament, a move which may force the prime minister to bow down. However, no official statements have been given from his party LSI today.

Meta who chairs the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) has called for dialogue and has conditioned the continuation of his governing coalition with Rama’s socialists on the reformatting of the government into a more trustworthy team of ministers accepted by the opposition.

During a youth rally yesterday, Meta called for free and fair elections and amplified concerns on drug cultivation and trafficking which has tripled in the past two years.

“The country cannot be hostage to anyone who thinks of his seat more than social peace and stability of his country and his citizens. We have no time to waste, neither with the arrogance of one side, nor with the ultimatums of the other. We need to provide Albania with free and fair elections,” said Meta yesterday, adding that Albania risks becoming the shame of Europe.

April counts three important electoral deadlines for Albania. Tonight is the last deadline for political parties to register of election participation, amid joint opposition boycott of the process.

By April 19th pre-electoral coalitions have to be registered at the Central Elections Commission while by the end of the month all party lists of candidates running for parliament have to be officially registered.