Important issues like finding a solution to the CEC crisis must be addressed immediately instead of getting lost in the political rhetoric
TIRANA TIMES EDITORIAL
The elections are now less than two months away and the campaigning, canvassing, rhetoric and attacks are growing exponentially, which is often the case in elections anywhere. However, these are particularly important elections in Albania meant to end a period of political conflict, arbitrary, using political means to pressure independent institutions but foremost, ending the practice of contesting the results and boycotting the institutions that the elections for and legitimize.
As such it is imperative that all sides participating in the race keep the eye on the ball in terms of creating the conditions for polls that meet the best international standards and allow Albania to end its legacy of marred processes that have perpetuated an unending transition.
This week’s top stories had little to do with creating those conditions. The parties were at each-other’s throats over things like an incident in Vienna involving the leader of the opposition and a junior Albanian diplomat. The two sides give differing accounts of what happened, however, the ruling Democratic Party has taken upon itself to create a unilateral investigative commission on the matter – clearly a move aimed at the political campaign rather that actually finding a solution for the incident. The Socialists, on their side, have stopped to accused the government of “stealing” the opposition’s ideas and implementing them ahead of the elections in a hurry and ineffectively.
This as a far more pressing matter remains unaddressed – the Central Elections Commission – the chief official elections watchdog in Albania – remains essentially frozen, as three opposition members have resigned in protest after parliament removed one member representing a party that defected the government to join the opposition. The CEC keeps operating with its four members, nominated by the ruling coalition, but it cannot certify the elections without the opposition representatives and any action it takes is somewhat lacking in legitimacy since the opposition won’t vote on it.
The opposition says it won’t rejoin the CEC unless the body is reconstituted entirely, something the government says won’t happen. So we are back on square one in such situations. The opposition cries foul and boycotts the institutions and the government doesn’t budge from its position. It is a bad start for the electoral process and the situation needs to be addressed immediately.
It is a situation that representatives of the international community have watched with worry and for which they have sought a quick and appropriate solution. But the very fact that the international community would have to get involved in the CEC issues shows that no progress on consensus has been achieved and that Albania is entering these elections in the same conflict clients of the past four years. That needs to change, and it needs to so immediately.
