TIRANA, April 14 – Albania’s politicians have agreed in principle to take steps to reform the system to ban people from office when they have a criminal past or have been involved with the former communist regime’s secret police.
But no concrete work has taken place so far, despite recent developments that led to the arrest of two lawmakers, who are under house arrest for false testimony, one also being held through a request by Belgian authorities who said he took part in a murder related to a prostitution ring there.
With Albanians having little trust in their politicians and the justice system, the EU, which Albania aims to join, has offered to assist in the legal process.
Knut Fleckenstein, the European Parliament rapporteur for Albania, said he and his colleagues were watching the latest developments.
“We have decided to discuss this situation with Commissioner Hahn,” Fleckenstein said this week. “I can tell you only that, what we’re seeing at the moment is not a pleasant picture and really hope that we will have a clearer picture after the investigation closes.”
European parliamentarians are expected to talk about whether the commission can provide legal assistance to investigate the accused Albanian lawmakers.
