As EU steps up pressure, it is now or never for the country’s political leaders to work for Albania’s betterment and integration – rather than their own political interests.
Tirana Times
With the summer over, there appears to be new pressure on Albania’s political leadership to move its European agenda forward. The pressure is both external – from the country’s Euro-Atlantic partners – and internal – from an Albanian public deeply frustrated with its political class.
The two-year-old political deadlock has essentially stopped European integration. Accompanied by a very hostile relationship between Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party and Opposition Leader Edi Rama of the Socialist Party, the crisis was fueled by these leaders’ desire to get or keep power at all cost, leaving behind a polarized society and a very large number of voters who have become disenchanted with politics altogether.
Now, it appears Albania’s opposition has decided to fully participate in parliament, offering an opportunity for a functioning relationship between it and the government. The move would also allow for the discussion and vote on a long line of laws that had been held hostage by the two-year-old deadlock.
The governing parties say they are happy to see the parliament properly functioning again, but it remains to be seen how much room they will give to the opposition on issues outside the government’s immediate interest.
It is clear, for example, that if the SP and DPleaderswantto build consensus and work for the country’s better future, they need to undo the constitutional changes they made through an agreement of Mr. Rama and Mr. Berisha three years ago as well as change the electoral code to avoid further problematic elections. The constitutional changes were clearly done to advance short-term political interests by the two leaders – weakening independent institutions נand provide a good lesson on why playing with constitutional changes is never a good idea. The electoral code, as is, also puts all the power to select candidates in the hands of party leaders, stifling democracy since it does not allow for internal debate within the parties.
As the new parliament starts work, the EU is sending a clear message it will take an active role in Albania. In an almost surprise announcement, we learned that the foreign ministers of Italy and Greece would both visit Albania on the same day – Sept. 12. Italy’s Franco Frattini and the Greece’s Stavros Lambrinidis will be in a joint mission to boost the process of European integration. The EU is coordinating their mission, and it is a clear signal the EU and partner countries do not want Albania to drift any further. Instead, they want to promote political dialogue and accelerate the necessary reforms for the integration process.
In addition to the EU pressure, Albania’s political leaders also face the growing frustration with the situation in the large part of the population that has no direct ties to politics – meaning those whose jobs or livelihood don’t depend on who is in power. It is out of such frustration that leadership challenges and potential third parties arise. And it is something that ultimately Mr. Rama and Mr. Berisha fear.
So the question then remains: Is this the beginning of the end for the crisis – a new start in a stable political landscape that can lead to good elections in 2013? Only time will tell. EU’s pressure and Albanians’ frustration are a good starting point, but it is up to the country’s political leaders to finally do more than just pay lip service to democratic principles and work for the betterment on the country – not just their own political interests.
