Opposition MP Says Foreign Diplomats Playing Internal Political Games in Albania

vangjel, dule, pbdnj, albania, greek
Vangjel Dule chairs the Albanian Greek Minority Party PBDNJ

Tirana, Albania | Tirana Echo – A representative of the opposition block of Albania, Vangjel Dule who chairs the Greek minority party in the country says foreign diplomats are trying to influence internal politics of Albania in favor of the country’s prime minister Edi Rama.

During a talk with students at the European University of Tirana, the head of Party for Unity and Human Rights (PBDNJ) Vangjel Dule, who represents Albania’s Greek minority in parliament, shocked local media when he admitted foreign diplomats have told him to enter general elections against opposition’s will, as in the absence of Democratic Party, the PBDNJ could get more seats.

During our meetings with certain foreign diplomats in Tirana, I have heard things that, if I hadn’t been with other colleagues present, I would have not shared with you. But when I heard a cynical proposal, I couldn’t believe my ears. We were told by these foreign diplomats in the presence of 4-5 smaller opposition parties representatives that this may be a good opportunity for us to enter elections as in the absence of DP, we could get more mandates in parliament.” – said Dule who could not hide his dismay at what he had heard inside the protest tent in Tirana.

Dule suggested that the effort was done in support of PM Rama’s plan to enter elections without the opposition democrats, trying to replace them with smaller parties willing to take part.

Opposition parties are currently boycotting parliament and demand PM Rama’s resignation and the formation of a technical government which could guarantee free and fair elections scheduled for June 18.

However the prime minister has vowed to go ahead and run elections even without the opposition, an option refuted by his junior coalition partner Ilir Meta who serves as Speaker of Parliament, who has warned the PM his party LSI would not participate if the opposition is absent.

The opposition has missed this week’s deadline to register at the Central Elections Commission for participating at the next elections, which puts more pressure on the prime minister to resign.

Mr. Dule who served as Deputy Speaker of Parliament until last year, resigned from the position and left the current center-left coalition of PM Rama, in protest for the entrance of an ‘anti-Greek’ party the PDIU who claims the rights of Albanians forcefully expelled from Greece after WW2.

Since then the PBDNJ has joined the opposition block led by the democrats and are currently boycotting parliament.

If Dule’s account is proven, this could constitute a huge breech of Albania’s sovereign rights and a flagrant intrusion into the country’s internal politics which is forbidden to foreign diplomats under the Vienna Convention.

The European Union has spoken against the parliamentary boycott of the democratic party and have called for their return to parliament as well as the assurance of guarantees for free and fair elections.

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