No talks to get Albania out of political deadlock – two days ahead of electoral deadline

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – As the deadline for the registration of electoral political parties approaches, majority and opposition have yet to sit down to negotiate an agreement to get Albania out of the political deadlock which has paralyzed the country for more than 50 days and put the country’s European integration process at risk.

According to Albania’s electoral code, political parties have until the 9th of April to register at the Central Elections Committee which would then certify them for participation at the upcoming June 18 general elections.

However, opposition parties have entered a parliamentary boycott and are demanding the resignation of prime minister Edi Rama and the creation of a technical government which would guarantee ‘free and fair’ elections.

Since the latest proposal of Speaker of Parliament Ilir Meta to make his party’s political mandates available at the service of a government of ‘trust’ which would bring the opposition democrats back to parliament, no serious moves have taken place, with both PM Edi Rama and DP chair Lulzim Basha staying firm on their ground.

The simultaneous prime time interviews of all three political leaders last night produced little to raise hopes of a possible negotiating table which would see governing socialists and opposing democrats sit down for a possible agreement on election management.

Prime Minister and chair of Socialist Party Edi Rama said to News24 that he has been waiting for two days on opposition leader Lulzim Basha to appoint a place and time for a meeting between the two. He conceded last night he would be open to discuss on anything while ‘pinching’ his junior ally Meta that with his offer is keeping the opposition tent alive with oxygen.

“Ilir Meta is attempting in his nature and his philosophy to stimulate a solution to the crisis as he deems best. But in my opinion he is wrong to stimulate a solution by keeping the tent alive through oxygen,” said Rama last night.

DP chair Lulzim Basha said to TV Klan that the DP would only negotiate on a technical government.

“There are only two options, either political debate for a technical government orr the path of civic confrontation which will not stop until we achieve the purpose of free and fair elections” said a defiant Basha who insisted on several occasions that the opposition would not allow an electoral process under the control of ‘criminals’.

Speaker and chair of the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) Ilir Meta said to Ora News that “We have to be careful of someone who has nothing to lose, who could engage on actions which could damage us all. It is the responsibility of the majority to show the will for free elections“.

Meta reconfirmed that for the LSI there cannot be elections without the opposition while repeating his call for a government of trust, which could not exclude Rama as prime minister, as long as the standard of elections is guaranteed.

However, despite calls from the EU and the US to find a way out of the crisis and return to parliament, Albania’s leaders are no closer today to an agreement than last night.

DP chair Basha responded to Rama’s invitation to negotiate with another invitation to the protest tent in Tirana’s main boulevard.

“We need dialogue for a solution through a technical government. Rama expressed his desire to come to the tent, so let’s leave the door open. But Rama should come to the tent with his signed resignation at hand,” said Basha today, signalling the continuation of DP’s protest.

Albania’s political life has been crippled by a parliamentary boycott of its opposition while the country is expected to vote on crucial names for its reformed justice system, elect a new president and hold general parliamentary elections on June 18.

The European Union has conditioned the opening of membership accession talks on the implementation of its crucial justice reform and on the standards of general elections according to OSCE-ODIHR recommendations.