EPP urges Albania’s opposition democrats to negotiate their return to elections

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – The European Peoples Party (EPP) has called on its Albanian member the Democratic Party to abandon its boycott and start negotiating their return to the electoral process.

EPP President Joseph Daul has confirmed in a press release after his video conference call with DP’s leadership this evening that the EPP has called on the democrats to contribute constructively towards a solution which brings the DP back on upcoming elections track while urges them to refrain from any violence on elections day.

Daul acknowledged the main concern of the democrats on massive drug cultivation across Albania but did not support their request for the resignation of prime minister Edi Rama.

“The EPP and its member DP share the opinion that a tougher fight against drugs is crucial for both Albania and the EU. I praise our sister party for placing the fight against drugs on top of their political agenda and this is why I will suppor the EU to strengthen its monitoring and the implementation of the action plan 2017-2020 for the fight against cultivation and trafficking of cannabis.” – said Daul in his statement.

However, Daul said the registration and participation at elections is necessary while no parliamentary or electoral boyCott are in line with EU standards.

“I was assured by the Democratic Party they will engage in further constructive negotiations with the governing majority in order to find a solution. I underlined that the proposed compromise by our EPP vice-President David McAllister last week established the right priorities in order to guarantee the elections’ standards, and I ask all sides to engage sincerely in finding a political solution.” – said Joseph Daul in closing his statement.

The strong statement by the chief of the European conservatives in Brussels comes as the opposition Democratic Party has missed all three deadlines to register for upcoming June 18 elections, threatening to boycott elections and block the electoral process unless socialist PM Edi Rama resigns.

The democrats have said they are concerned that elections would not be free and fair unless proper mechanisms are put in place to guarantee that drug money does not circulate during the electoral campaign.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has refused to step down and has vowed to go ahead with elections as planned, even without the opposition.