Albanian political parties could not reach a consensus on the political deadlock and also on passing a law on the new Administrative Court, despite warning from Washington they would cut funding for that project.
Tirana Times
TIRANA, Sep. 30 -Albania’s political parties were unable to reach a compromise and vote on a law on the new Administrative Court System, which means the country will lose U.S. government funding to implement the program.
On Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Tirana urged the Albanian parliament to quickly adopt a draft law on administrative courts, warning that failing to do so would lead to the loss of about 11.6 million euros allocated for the process.
Adopting the legislation is part of Albania’s commitments under the Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Agreement Program, which measures performance in three areas נRuling Justly, Investing in People, and Encouraging Economic Freedom.
The agreement was signed between Tirana and Washington in September 2008.
But the opposition Socialists Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama had told the governing Democratic party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha that draft law had to be included in a package they proposed covering the vote transparency and the investigation of last year’s parliamentary elections they claim were manipulated in vote counting.
After the Democrats did not agree saying they could not link the two issues, the Socialists abandoned the parliament’s hall and consequently the draft law on Administrative Courts could not be voted as it required at least three-fifths of members or parliament or 84 votes to pass.
Berisha said he was open to any amendment to the draft if the opposition would bring them immediately.
The Socialists said the draft proposed by the government did not take into account the notes of some EU experts and that was done to grant favors to the politically-affiliated private companies while the Democrats were in power.
Both sides tried to show to the electorate why they were right in their decisions.
The draft law has been pending in parliament since early 2009.
“Failure to enact this legislation will result in the closure of Administrative Courts activities administered under the Threshold Program by USAID,” said the U.S. embassy in a statement.
It added that “the Administrative Courts law is essential to helping Albania promote transparency in the judicial system, strengthen the rule of law, and boost citizen trust in public institutions. The Administrative Courts Bill would establish seven courts that would adjudicate disputes of citizens and businesses on matters such as employment, tax, customs, pensions, property registration, and compensation of property, as well as other important issues. In addition, the establishment of these courts would further align Albania’s judicial system with required EU integration standards.”
“U.S. assistance for the Administrative Courts Program will not be continued absent passage of the current bill,” it said.
Common Albanians, their businesses and the country’s future really wants the court and the Washington money to help its creation. However, Albanian post-communist politics has shown it will put its interests above those of the people, analysts say.
