BREAKING NEWS – Albania’s coalition partner LSI drops the bomb: “No elections without the opposition – We need a government of trust”

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – Albania’s coalition junior partner the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) has said tonight there can be no elections without the opposition and that it is ready to give up its political mandates in favor of creating a government of trust and solving the country’s deepening political crisis.

Only one day after last night’s much commented dinner with PM Edi Rama, LSI’s chair and Speaker of Parliament Ilir Meta said late this evening that his party had decided to consider continuing governing the the Socialist Party only if it offers full guarantees to the opposition on free and fair elections.

Meta said the LSI considers the current political situation in the country is very tense and any further delay would send the country in an unknown direction, insisting that both Rama and Basha should step back from their exclusive and individual positions.

Meta spoke to the media after LSI’s chairmanship meeting tonight unveiling the long awaited position of LSI on any future coalition deal with Rama’s socialists.

“On the coalition issue, the LSI is open to reaffirm its coalition with the SP ahead of the next elections based on our achievements to date. However, if the socialist leadership will not show its will to guarantee free and fair elections for the opposition to be part of elections, the LSI cannot be part of such a coalition which is a farce“, said Ilir Meta to the journalists present.

Meta continued to say that a ‘government of trust’ is needed which should “wage a tough war on drugs phenomenon and should do its utmost to guarantee the process of decriminalization, an electoral reform and an electoral race on equal terms“.

The LSI leader and former prime minister currently holding the Speaker of Parliament position said his party is ready to give up all its political mandates in favor of a solution of the political crisis.

“The LSI has decided to make available all its political mandates, the mandate of the speaker of parliament, its ministers and other political positions at the service of a solution. Without the opposition there are no elections“, said Meta tonight in a move which has bewildered and surprised all political analysts in Albania.

The move comes as the opposition democrats are on their 45th day of protesting in Tirana, demanding the resignation of PM Edi Rama and the creation of a technical government which would guarantee free and fair elections, scheduled for June 18th.

Known for its last minute surprise moves, Ilir Meta has thrown the ball on Rama’s court, only a day after the socialists gathered its national assembly and its senior exponents including Rama confirmed that they would be willing to go it alone against everyone else, even if the opposition does not take part in the electoral process.

Former minister of interior Saimir Tahiri who was dismissed last month said firmly yesterday that the socialist party does not want a “coalition to gather votes only, but to govern our citizens. the SP will win, even if it goes it alone, even with everyone against, the SP will win“, said Tahiri in a clear message to LSI’s leadership which had been critical of his affairs as minister of interior.

However, LSI’s Meta tonight clarified all confusion created across Albanian media outlets confirming that the LSI will be part of another governing coalition with Rama’s socialists only if he would show responsibility and offer guarantees on free and fair elections for the opposition democrats, who are currently boycotting parliament.

“The LSI is clear that between the left and the right, chooses the left. Between a farce and democratic elections it chooses the latter. Between democracy and dictatorship, we choose democracy, and between stability and chaos, we choose stability,” – said Meta tonight.

Meta did not say whether his party will withdraw his ministers from the government but his latest surprise move steps up pressure on prime minister Edi Rama to soften his stance and sit down with the opposition democrats to defuse the political crisis which has paralyzed Albania for more than 45 days and halted the implementation of its highly crucial justice reform, a key condition to open membership talks with the European Union.