TIRANA, May 26 – The progress of justice reform has hit another roadblock as the country’s opposition is asking for political negotiations over concerns the proposed draft will lead to political capture of the system.
Opposition leader Lulzim Basha told reporters on Wednesday that the Democratic Party does not agree with the institutional structure and has presented its own proposals on the justice reform.
“Since the first day, we said yes to justice reform and no to political capture. If there’s a will, let’s sit and talk. Of course, this requires time and neither pressure nor hypocrisy,” said Basha.
Basha’s statement comes only days after Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S embassy in Tirana David Muniz said that “it is too late for the essential changes to the structure of the reform” .
Foreign diplomats in Tirana have pressed for the adoption of the reform within June.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Edi Rama said during an interview for Top Channel he was open to political negotiations with the opposition, but “the current draft prepared by experts won’t be touched since doing so would affect the core of the reform” .
Meanwhile, the government’s ally in the ruling coalition the Socialist Movement for Integration launched an appeal for consensus.
“We are having unjustifiable delays. Albanian politics has to unite just like fans of rival football teams Tirana and Partizani do when the national football team plays,” said Speaker of Parliament and SMI chairman Meta.
Despite mounting international pressure, the reform appears to have hit another bump.
The meeting of the ad hoc committee on justice reform this week failed to reach an agreement, as the opposition has presented its own draft regarding constitutional amendments.
The opposition is insisting that the architecture of the system is too complicated and is demanding the removal of four institutions proposed in the current draft.
The opposition claims their proposals eliminate the capture of the judicial system by the government.
After a series of setbacks, the unanimous approval in principle of the draft regarding required constitutional amendments gave hope that the reform would progress smoothly, but as the opposition and majority still diverge in opinions; its outcome is once again uncertain.
The justice reform draft was reviewed following Venice Commission recommendations by experts of Opdat and Euralius missions.
The adoption of the reform is regarded as fundamental for Albania’s EU membership aspirations.
