Socialists Fighting With Meta’s Party

TIRANA, Aug 26 – The main opposition Socialist Party is finding no peace with the Socialist Movement for Integration of former premier Ilir Meta.
Though they met last week, the first meeting after their ties were frozen since the adoption of the constitutional amendment for the regional proportional voting system in April, they immediately resumed their war of words, accusing each other of serving the governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha. The main issues of debate between the two parties is the way a new coalition could be created for next year’s elections and how voters should cast their ballots, a move that should be set in law as the new electoral code is to be passed by Parliament in September.All smaller political parties opposed the new system, supported by the two main political parties. But while smaller parties softened their stand, including those in the governing coalition who never saw such internal political fighting, Meta continued to press the Socialists for a greater role. Meta claims he has much support and that his party can also run alone, as done three years ago, a move which resulted in victory for Berisha’s Democrats.