Albanians Demonstrate in Brussels – Urge Juncker to Support Free & Fair Elections in Albania

Brussels | Tirana Echo – Representatives of the Albanian community in Belgium protested yesterday in Brussels in support of the Albanian opposition demands for free & fair elections and ask European Commission President to pay more attention to critical political events in Albania.

Around 500 Albanians gathered in Brussels calling on EU authorities to pay more attention to critical political events in Albania and take every step to uphold the rights and interests of the Albanian people.

In a petition sent after the protest to European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker, representatives of the Albanian community in Belgium asked the European Commission to “encourage, pressure and condition Albanian political parties, in particular the ruling Socialist Party top commit to free and fair elections”.

Protesters said that the wide spread corruption and pervasive crime in Albania has undermined EU standards and is hurting the wellbeing of Albanian people while the capture of the state by criminal interests and the direct involvement of criminals in the Albanian Parliament and leading institutions of the country are a serious threat to Albania and its citizens.

Chanting “Free & Fair Elections in Albania” and “Free Albanian Parliament from Criminals”, the Albanian community members asked Juncker to intervene so that “the EU should not turn a blind eye or be complacent with this critical situation. It is time for the EU to realize that the current government has lost its legitimacy and its capability to control the territory, fight crime and hold free and fair elections”.

The protest in Brussels comes right after EU High Representative Federica Mogherini returned from a brief trip to the Balkans, declaring that the door of the EU remained open and that each country knows what it should do to enter the union.

Talking on Albania particularly after her visit, Mogherini said that the “implementation of the vetting law was the key condition for Albania to be able to set a date for opening accession talks with the EU”.

Albanian opposition democrats have been protesting for 18 days and entered a much criticized parliamentary boycott demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and the establishment of a technical government.