Democrats protest delay in implementing civil service law, saying the new government wants to fire current staffers and employ party activists instead
TIRANA, Oct. 10 – Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party has boycotted the work of parliamentary commissions and general assembly sessions, after the leftist Socialist Party-led majority decided to delay the implementation of the new civil service law.
This law has turned into a major issue of debate between the new government and the opposition.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said he decided to postpone the use of the law, which was passed in late May with a total approval from all the parties, for six months.
The approval was aimed at showing Brussels that the country’s political class was able to compromise on a major issue and it was also part of the EU recommendations for Albania to push forward is membership bid in the body.
The new leftist government said postponing implementation was necessary because the previous government had not compiled other regulations accompanying the law needed for its implementation.
But the opposition Democrats said the delay was aimed to give free hand to the new government to fire people and employ party activists instead. That should not be allowed to happen, said the new opposition leader, Tirana Mayor Lulzim Basha.
The leftist majority said some people needed to be let go because the previous government has employed thousands of party activists in the last few months, while firing thousands not only eight years ago when it came to power, but also this spring after the smaller Socialist Movement for Integration ally left their governing coalition.
Firing and hiring in the civil service under political pressure has been one of the ugliest features of Albania’s transition, analysts say.
But some are also concerned that boycott remains a main tool of the political fight in post-communist Albania. It may endanger the country’s efforts to get the positive response from Brussels on an application for EU candidate status pending since 2009.
The annual progress report is expected later this month and the European Commission is expected to give a positive suggestion on that. It will be the EU’s Council of Ministers that will make the final decision in December.
