By Alba à‡ela
While domestic and international observers have noticed and applauded the reduced rhetorical tension of this political campaign, at least until the fight between the coalition partners started, other developments are not being properly observed.
The country, at least the one we see in the media, is in the middle of a serious crime wave. A small number of crimes are related to the campaign: beatings of party activists, issuing of fake documents.
However, the largest number of grave incidents seem related to vendettas and organized crime. Large numbers of drugs are being seized at the borders, murders are occurring every day, including mafia-style executions, cars are being blown up.
Vlora, a city notorious for its persistent security issues, is yet again in the daily news. Even the most routine traffic accidents with serious consequences such as children deaths have increased witnessing a rollback of the results achieved in the disciplining of traffic and drivers performance.
The state structures, consumed by campaign events, seem to have been taken by surprise. Yet it is a well-known fact that crime organizations and criminal individuals planning hits always make good use of the times when the attention is elsewhere, from electoral cycles to New Year Eve celebrations.
However the political circus shadows everything else with its carefully curated rallies, luncheons, meetings and inaugurations. Right after this citizens are invited to watch and pour over the latest polls over potential winners and losers from the imaginary coalitions.
There is another factor that seems to have weakened the institutions and therefore their ability to respond to the situation: The leadership in key ministries of the executive were replaced by technocrats whom have yet to establish their authority and are mostly consumed with hunting for wrongdoers among political opponents in a so-called quest to save the elections. In addition, the police is under attack by high level political figures, diminishing its authority and questioning its legitimacy. It’s a real feast for criminals.
Albania on the eve of the elections, with its scattered institutions and officials in the electoral campaign and the attention of decision makers over vote calculations and predictions, is a country vulnerable and on the edge.
As if the electoral process and the eternally under construction roads were not a big enough turn off for the tourist season, rising crime is also a potential problem for the delicate short tourist season in the country.
Law enforcement agencies and state institutions should step up and guarantee the stability and well-being of citizens. This includes the technocrat ministers, whose first and foremost responsibility is to the country.
The country’s prime minister, president-elect and head of the opposition should also reflect on their extreme political behavior and its impact on the safety of ordinary citizens. The campaign, even if it’s late in the night, does go to sleep. Crime never sleeps.
