Tirana Times
TIRANA, June 10 – Politics is pregnant, responded a talk show journalist Thursday morning when asked from an Albanian immigrant in Italy.
That’s right! Albanian politics is not only pregnant but also in a serious health situation and everybody, including the international community, is trying to take good care it gives birth to a nice child.
But the country seems calm, listening to the furore of the government and the pessimism of the opposition, something that everybody in the last two post-communist decades is used to.
Albania and Albanians are getting ready to enjoy the summer, their good beaches, somewhat better roads, looking for a better service and warmer environment.
That takes the country’s politics somewhat backwards.
The governing Democratic party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the main opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama are still quarreling with each other, squabbling which started last year after the June 28 parliamentary elections, narrowly won with 75 of the 140 parliament’s seats from Berisha and his allies.
The opposition Socialists want a partial recount claiming manipulation of the counting process.
That is considered illegal as it violates the laws and the Constitution, say the Democrats.
First the Socialists boycotted the parliament, though they declared they recognized the election results and the government. That brought about a practically non-functioning of the assembly, with many laws required for the country’s integration into the European Union not being able to pass as they ask for three-fifth of the vote.
Following generational pressure and direct mediation from the Council of Europe in February, the Socialists turned back to parliament to create an investigative commission That was created but without their presence as they left when the Democrats said the commission could not partially recount the votes.
Then they only took part at the first hour of the parliament’s sessions insisting only on the recount process, that is, not taking part in its works.
Then they resumed the street protests and the hunger strike.
Again the international community, this time the European Commission and the European Parliament, mediated to bring down to the table the two leaders, this time in Strasbourg at the Crocodile restaurant.
That meant the end of the hunger strike and return to parliament.
The two parties had a two-week time to reach a compromise, assisted from Europe
Nothing was achieved that time limit was over. Meanwhile the European Commission gave its positive approval and suggested to the European Union’s Council that Bosnia and Albania get the visa-free regime.
Earlier this month the European Parliament passed a resolution on Bosnia but postponed that on Albania for June 26 and let another two week time to this country’s politicians.
It is first the European Parliament to vote on Albania’s visa liberalization and then the EU’s Council of interior ministers to take the final decision, likely in November.
But it has become clear that though such a decision is based on technical issues that should be fulfilled by the country, it is still taken from political decision-makers, adding that the political crisis in the country may also negatively affect its request for the EU candidate status.
That is very clear, hoping also for Berisha, Rama and their assistants.
For the moment we are purely listening the same words from Berisha, that they are open to any compromise which does not violates the laws, and Rama, that transparency with partial vote recount is indispensable for the country’s democratic future.
It is learnt the offer from Europe is to first check, investigate the vote documentation and if needed to ask the Venice Commission whether to open or not the ballot boxes.
There is no change of their stands. They have shown they are determined. Albania knows that from the past twenty years experience.
But the country’s pregnancy is being threatened. Will it give birth to a solution accepted by everyone and sustainable in the future, or an early birth, pushed from the international community midwife, and which, very likely will be with a problematic health at least for the near future?
All the experience, support and the people’s wish is already there. Are the two leaders and their close associated good parents? They need to show it and time is passing fast.
