Elections deadlocked?!

TIRANA, Dec. 7 – Albania is heading toward a deadlock for the local municipal elections after the two main political groupings _ governing Democratic Party-led and the opposition Socialist Party-led coalitions are denying to trust and agree with each other mainly for the voters’ list and the election day. Despite three days of intensive negotiations teams from both parts said only nice words and that they looked for a consensus but practically they achieved nothing. Their talks were deadlocked at both those main issues. Ruling Democrats say changing voting day is out of discussion and there could be printed no new certificates for the polls. Opposition Socialists insist elections cannot be held with the old voters’ list for which time is needed and that new certificates should be produced.
Albanian President Alfred Moisiu on Saturday set Jan. 20 as the date for local elections. As expected the Democrats of Prime Minister Sali Berisha hailed the decision while the opposition Socialists of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama opposed it. The bitter political climate has delayed much-needed electoral reforms. Developments in the parliament Monday showed the deadlock could seriously threaten holding the elections. Moisiu said that according to the country’s constitution, Jan. 20 was the last day on which the election for local mayors and governors could be held. He had hoped that parliament could have passed the electoral reforms before the ballot date, but said voting could still be held under the previous law. Moisiu harshly spoke about the political deadlock from the two main political parties. He appealed to the Albanian to go to the vote and show their will saying that voting was not a monopoly of the political parties. “We have the opportunity to successfully overcome this test by holding free, fair and honest polls,” he said at a news conference Saturday.
Elections in post-communist Albania have consistently fallen short of international standards, and the European Union and United States have stressed that free and fair elections are essential if the country hopes to eventually join the EU and NATO. Electoral reforms would have to be passed by constitutional amendments, which require approval by at least 84 of parliament’s 140 seats _ a three-fifths majority. The governing Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the main opposition Socialist Party of Tirana Mayor Edi Rama hold a total of 97 seats, but have so far refused to agree on any of the reforms. If they want and agree they may pass any amendment needed.
One of the main problems has been outdated voter lists, with many voters appearing on several lists in different locations. The Socialists have accused the government of distributing fake birth certificates _ used as identification in order to vote _ which could allow people to vote more than once. The government has denied the accusation.
The work of the two delegations from the opposing political groupings showed they do not trust each other. They started to negotiate and everyone said they agreed on most of the topics but not on the voters’ list and the election date. Democrats want the list they have already prepared while Socialists say they do not accept it and asked for nine week postponement of the creation of the list. But that meant the election date has to be postponed as well, which Democrats do not agree. That normally asks for their consensus and voting in the parliament.
Moisiu urged the parties to put their differences aside and work to ensure the election was free and fair. “Political parties should understand that elections are not their monopoly. ŠElections are not held for the parties but for the citizens. Political parties should get rid of their reciprocal lack of trust and keep promises,” said Moisiu. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said that 430 international observers would be in Albania for the local election, the fifth since the collapse of communism 16 years ago.