Democrats set conditions for ending boycott

Democrats want MPs with criminal records out of parliament and power to erect several new investigative commissions in order to end boycott of parliament.
TIRANA, Oct. 2 – Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party has set the removal of MPs with criminal records from parliament and the establishment of several investigative commissions as conditions for ending their ongoing boycott of parliament.
The Democrats have been boycotting parliament since July, and Democratic Party Chairman Lulzim Basha said this week at a party convention that a major agreement with the governing coalition for concessions would be needed for a return to parliament.
Basha said that the opposition wants to create several probing commissions in parliament and Socialists must get rid of MPs who have criminal records or served time in prison at home and abroad.
The Democrats have said they have information that at least two MPs from the ruling Socialist-led coalition have criminal convictions in Western Europe.
In response to that Prime Minister Edi Rama said they would be welcomed to go back to the parliament this week and launch the investigative commissions. He also called on the Democrats to bring a draft law that would require that criminal checks be made on proposed MP, disqualifying those with criminal records.
Rama said he had done a criminal background check on all candidates and received information that cleared them.
The Democrats first said they boycotted parliament after the physical abuse that one of their parliamentarians suffered at the hands of from two governing MPs.
The two MPs are now facing criminal charges for the beating inside parliament, prosecutors said last week.
Rama has also said the Socialists are preparing an internal regulation for their party that would condemn any MP for violent behavior in parliament, including kicking them off the parliamentary group.
At the same time he urged prosecutors to respect the law in the case opened against two of their MPs.