Opposition asks for Berisha’s resignation, PM says no Government reshuffle

TIRANA, Aug. 17 – The Albanian opposition has started to increasingly ask for Berisha’s resignation as a way out of the political crisis before the local government elections expected next year. Though giving no direct response to their appeal, Prime Minister of the Democratic Party-led government Sali Berisha says that he finds no reason for a government reshuffle.
Opposition leaders came out this week saying that Berisha’s replacement at the head of the government could be the consensus needed to make progress in the area of electoral reform. The opposition says clearly they can continue no further, and will boycott the parliament sessions starting next month, unless the Democratic Party-led majority will agree to change the temporary voters’ list and not use it in the next polls. This refers to the recently elected new member of the Central Election Commission and the equal membership at the media council. They want to enjoy equal rights of coverage in the future. The opposition has expressed determination not to continue any step further if such conditions are not met by the government. The opposition has also embarked on an attack against the financial and property transparency of Berisha family members. They claim there is no way that his daughter could have earned and owned so much. Could she have done it legally from her work; hinting at corruption behind that. The opposition also says Berisha may find no other people or personalities to replace his failed ministers in the government.
On his side Berisha came out Monday at a news conference saying that he saw no reason why he should change his ministers, considering their work has been successful. It was widely expected, or at least rumor was spread, that Berisha would change some ministers in September. “At the moment I have no motive to make changes. Be sure that this government and these ministers will keep their posts based on performance,” said Berisha at the news conference.
Government changes are hinted at or opposed among Berisha’s allies as well. Even though Mr. Ndoka earlier achieved having a vice minister of his recommendation in the government, Nard Ndoka of the Christian Democrats said that the government should have a few changes before the local elections. Artan Madhi of the Republican Party supported Berisha’s idea of no changes, also adding that the parliamentary majority has the votes to confirm any change if made.
Berisha also did not forget to repeat that the fight against corruption remained a top priority of his government. It was hinted, however, that this fight is directed against involved former Socialist government officials. He appealed to the parliament to support the necessary amendments needed in this fight and to the judiciary to remove the criminalized persons. He also repeated the idea of lifting the parliamentary immunity for that reason, something with which he started governing last year but that had remained locked until now. “From all the reports from the media and myself I have no information of this kind,” said Berisha answering a question whether there was any indication of corruptive cases with his ministers.
On Sunday Berisha’s media adviser Neritan Sejamini repeated the offer to the opposition for cooperation, also expressing the government’s determination to take all the steps for free and fair elections. He also reminded the opposition that it also bears responsibility in that process.
Along this political fruitless debate the work on improving the voters’ list has stalled after opposition members of the local authorities did not respond to the government efforts to make the necessary changes in the list. Vice Interior Minister Ferdinand Pone accused Socialist leader Edi Rama of political pressure on the local authority members to not cooperate with the central government. Nine out of 12 small town halls in the capital Tirana said through a news conference that they do not recognize the interior minister’s order on the issue.