Dashamir Tahiri, the only MP elected with the Cham party in 2009, has distanced himself from the appointment of the two deputy ministers, which he described as a political manoeuvre
TIRANA, March 7 – The Democratic Party-led government has strengthened its cooperation with its second most important ally, the Party for Justice and Integration and Unity (PDIU), representing the Cham community in Albania, just after one of the majority MPs announced he was leaving the coalition and few months before the country’s new president is elected. Government has offered the Chams two deputy minister posts, officially representing the community which was ousted from Greece during WWII, in the central government.
The Chams which have two MPs, party chairman Shpetim Idrizi and Dashamir Tahiri, had previously been given the head of the Driving Licences Directorate and the head of Central Construction Inspectorate as the second most important ally of the ruling Democratic Party after the Socialist Party for Integration which is represented with four MPs in Parliament.
The Chams have now been offered the deputy minister of Education and the deputy minister of Tourism and Culture which will be occupied by party representatives Ardian Tano and Abaz Hado respectively. Both the education and culture ministries are currently represented by four deputy ministers each after no cuts were made.
Dashamir Tahiri, the only MP elected with the Cham party in 2009, has distanced himself from the appointment of two deputy ministers, which he described as a political manoeuvre. In a statement, the MP said he was insulted to have been informed of the news only on TV and described it as a personal decision by party leader Shpetim Idrizi.
Shpetim Idrizi, the PDIU chairman, who was elected as MP with the opposition Socialist Party in 2009, says the party chose to be part of ruling coalition as the only way to put pressure on the solution of the Cham question which after 65 years remains unresolved with Greece not recognizing their property and even rights to travel to the homes they were ousted from after WWII.
The latest government move with the Cham Party comes few months before a new President is elected and outgoing President Bamir Topi has announced the creation of a right-wing party after constant deepening conflicts with his former Democratic Party during his five-year presidency.Gazmend Oketa, a Democratic Party MP known as a supporter of President Topi, elected in the Durres region has recently announced he is leaving the coalition, denouncing lack of internal democracy in the party.
Under the 2008 Constitutional changes, the President can be elected with a majority of 71 votes in the fourth round of the vote if the parties fail to elect a consensual President with a qualified majority of 3/5 of votes.
