With local elections only two months away, deadlock’s risks increase
Tirana Times
Albania is now just two months before the scheduled local elections, and the country remains stuck in the same political deadlock it has been for nearly two years.
The opposition has failed to be involved at all so far in the local elections, scheduled for May 8. It is entirely unclear whether it will even participate. There have been voices out of the opposition saying the local elections should not be boycotted, but rather delayed. But even independent institutions like the country’s presidency and elections’ commission say there will be no delay in holding the elections.
The time then has come to ask opposition leader, Edi Rama, whether he has a plan.
That’s because the opposition is being unclear about what its policy is. Will it continue with its street protests seeking early general parliamentary elections? If that’s the case, will it boycott the local elections in May? If the opposition will participate in the elections, why has it so far done nothing to prepare for them?
The opposition seats and Central Elections Commission have remained empty for quite a while as the opposition boycotts its proceedings. Last week, the commission, composed solely of members of the ruling parties at this point, declared it would fill the empty opposition seats in all regional electoral commissions with independent academics and professionals.
As the deadlock continues, the opposition continues to send in mixed signals. And this comes as high officials from the United States and European Union are about to visit Tirana. The U.S. deputy secretary of state is here to meet with leaders of both the ruling parties and the opposition. The EU’s chief foreign policy official, Catherine Ashton, will also arrive soon.
These visits show the international community is intensifying its efforts to solve the deadlock in Albania. After all, this is a NATO member and an aspiring EU member. However, the Albanian leadership carries a number of important responsibilities on which it must ask.
It should first look to the future interests of the country and be clear about its objectives. The Albanian political leadership should act in the interest of Albania, not in the interests of themselves, their power and the interests of the small elite they represent.
Diplomatic sources tell Tirana Times the European Union will have to consider a packet of extreme measures for Albania if the deadlock does not end, and if the Albanian political leaders don’t agree to reach a compromise.
These measures would include suspending the funding EU gives Albania as part of its progress toward membership, which would be incredibly costing for the country. It would also mean reintroducing the visa regime for travel to much of the EU, something that the government touts as a great achievement.
If these measures take place, it will be an incredible defeat for Albania – another fatal step backward for the country. Sadly, either their implementation or the threat of implementing them, might be the only way to convince the Albanian governing and opposition parties to sit down and figure out how to get Albania’s democratic system working again.
