TIRANA, July 18 – Albania could head to early elections even if the long-awaited justice reform is approved in consensus this week, the Socialist Movement for Integration, the junior ally of the ruling Socialist Party has threatened in an apparent rift in the left-wing coalition that has led the country for the past three years.
With only few days remaining to break the deadlock over the justice reform, SMI head and Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta has called for caretaker government following the approval of the justice reform to ease what he called the climate of mistrust and pave the way to early elections.
“ Considering that the lack of trust is concerning, so tiresome and so dangerous to the country’s future, I am convinced that the best way forward is the setting up of a government of experts so that once the reform is approved it will lead the country towards democratic free and fair elections,” Meta told a press conference Friday.
The internationals’ role in the vetting of judges and prosecutors in the much-rumored justice reform has deepened the divide between the ruling Socialists and the opposition Democrats with the latter claiming that their proposed decision-making role puts the country’s sovereignty at risk. When everything seemed to be heading back to square one and broad political consensus following new U.S.-brokered talks, a rift has also emerged in the ruling coalition with the Socialist Party’s junior ally, the Socialist Movement for Integration, also voicing concern over the proposed constitutional changes and the internationals’ role in the vetting process.
The SMI, which has some 20 MPs in the 140-seat Parliament has emerged as a kingmaker in the past two general elections, and is also expected to be decisive in the next elections.
In a clear threat to the senior coalition partner, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Meta warned that SMI is willing to have all of SMI ministers resign after the approval of reform. “For the sake of compromise I am ready to resign as parliament speaker. The SMI ministers are also willing to do the same thing,” Meta warned. He reminded political leaders that “everybody must sacrifice something” for the reform.
“Justice must be delivered to any politician starting from Ilir Meta,” he argued. The parliament speaker underlined that he supports the statement of Victoria Nuland, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs at the United States Department of State, for compromise between political parties as well as the hybrid proposal presented by the United States. “Consensus is necessary. I am fully convinced that if the reform is not approved on Thursday, it will represent a major step back for the country. On the other hand, the approval of the reform in an illegitimate manner can lead to a new path to the country which is not in favor of a stronger rule of law,” he noted.
The Parliament Speaker underlined the importance of approving the justice reform with consensus considering that the majority does not have the necessary votes to approve the reform alone. Meta also suggested a meeting between him, Prime Minister Rama, chairman of the opposition Lulzim Basha, U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu and EU ambassador Romana Vlahutin “to lock inside and find a solution, otherwise walk out of politics and diplomacy.”
Meta’s speech was one of the most unusual in his entire political career of more than two decades. He argued that discussions for the justice reform have started all wrong, because all politicians believe that the reform is about imprisoning politicians. “I’ll do time for all Albanian politicians in Washington, Alaska and Brussels, but this is not important. What is important is for Albania to not be hostage to quarrels and there should not be any victims after July 21st,” he concluded.
The parliament is expected to vote for the justice reform on Thursday. Meanwhile on Monday, U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu and EU Ambassador Romana Vlahutin will meet with Prime Minister Edi Rama and Democratic Party chairman Lulzim Basha in a last attempt to find a compromise for the justice reform.
In a joint statement published last Friday, MEPs Eduard Kukan and Knut Fleckenstein encourage politicians to find a credible solution to justice reform in Albania, saying that they support the role of the international experts overseeing the vetting process.
“We support the role envisaged for the International Monitoring Operation to oversee the entire vetting process. In our opinion, it does not diminish the ownership of the Albanian authorities, which is essential. International involvement would strengthen the credibility of the reform in the eyes of the Albanian public and of the international community and is in line with the recommendations of the Venice Commission,” they said.
